Sunday, August 10, 2003

4th Circuit nominee Allen described as "hard to pin down"

The Virginian-Pilot has this story on those with varying views about Claude Allen, who has been nominated by President Bush to a vacancy on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

The article includes this paragraph regarding Allen's rating from the ABA:

"Those concerns were highlighted late last month when the American Bar Association rated Allen as 'qualified' for the bench, but withheld the organization's top evaluation of 'well qualified.' The ABA panel did not explain its rating, although the criteria it uses suggests that a nominee to federal court should have been admitted to the bar for at least 12 years. Allen spent 7 1/2 years as a judicial clerk, as a private attorney and working for the Virginia Attorney General's Office."

The article also notes:

"The Senate Judiciary Committee has not yet scheduled a hearing to consider Allen's nomination. Although the Republican's beliefs on reproduction, immigration and other topics are likely to be scrutinized closely, it is unclear how many organizations will formally oppose the nomination."

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