Judge Priscilla Owen Confirmed as Part of Painful Filibuster Deal

I know I should write about the Senate's confirmation today of Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen to a lifetime position on the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals. I know I should, but it hurts so much.

Owen, a former Houston oil and gas industry attorney, is a long-time protege of White House advisor Karl Rove. He aided her campaigns for judicial office in 1994 and 2000. Ultra-conservative Owen recently received the worst rating on the Texas Supreme Court in an annual judicial evaluation poll by Houston attorneys.

Judge Owen is notoriously pro-business, anti-consumer protections, anti-environment and anti-reproductive rights. Critics say that she has a predilection for placing right-wing ideology into her rulings, rather than interpreting existing law. Judge Owen has been reprimanded for judicial misconduct more than 10 times.

But allowing her nomination to proceed to a full Senate vote was part of the "no nuclear option" deal, so we must live with this low-quality judicial appointment. The Senate vote of 55 to 43 was along party lines, except for 2 Democratic senators who cast "yes" votes: Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

Not that it matters....I suppose this is the price of losing so badly in senatorial election races last fall.

As Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said today in a letter to supporters, "While I do not support several of the judges that were agreed to, I am pleased that responsible Republicans and my Democratic colleagues were able to put aside their differences and worked to retain checks and balances, and ensure all voices are heard in our democracy....

Now Democrats will turn to work on the people's business. We need to protect retiree's pensions and long-term retirement security. We need to expand health care opportunities for all families. We need to address rising gasoline prices and energy independence. And we need to restore fiscal responsibility and rebuild our economy so that it lifts up all American workers. We need to ensure our troops have the resources they need to fight in Iraq and that Americans are free from terrorism.

That is our reform agenda, the people's reform agenda. Together, we can get the job done. "

Amen, Senator Reid.