HUZZAH: Trump Nominates Don Willett to Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
Few things could make a constitutionalist happier than to see this: President Trump has nominated Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
No words.
I am honored & humbled by @POTUS's nomination to the 5th Circuit.
Thank you, Mr. President—also Senators @JohnCornyn & @TedCruz. pic.twitter.com/499LFNdjbC
— Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) September 29, 2017
President Donald J. Trump is a fatuous idiot — a blundering oaf of a narcissist who disgusts every right-thinking person with his assishness and general dopeyness.
But if you looked at nothing but his judicial nominees, you’d be pretty damn impressed — not just with their quality, but with his willingness to nominate people who have mocked or criticized him in the past. Which, um, Don Willett has most definitely done.
Donald Trump haiku—
Who would the Donald
Name to #SCOTUS? The mind reels.
*weeps—can't finish tweet* pic.twitter.com/a326AP0mN1— Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) June 16, 2015
"We'll rebuild the Death Star. It'll be amazing, believe me. And the rebels will pay for it."
—Darth Trump pic.twitter.com/y25LADg15J— Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) April 8, 2016
That time @WilliamShatner flew Trump Airlines. pic.twitter.com/ok8dF0BsOj
— Justice Don Willett (@JusticeWillett) March 11, 2016
Just to name a few.
Of course, like Gorsuch, this happened because Trump is uninterested in judges and outsources everything to Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society.
And you know what? Nothing could make me happier.
So: nobody tell Trump about Willett’s past tweets. Keep it all under wraps until he is confirmed. (To SCOTUS.)
In all seriousness: good job, Mr. President. You’re an ugly dark cloud, but some of your silver linings are pretty sweet.
And this is why I voted for Trump–he does some stupid things, but if I only get great conservative judges out of this administration, I’ll be happy. Presidents come and go, but Supreme Court justices live on forever.
ROCHF (877dba) — 9/29/2017 @ 2:05 pmThis is gonna give the leftists apoplexy. I love it.
Rev.Hoagie® (6bbda7) — 9/29/2017 @ 2:40 pmHe’ll have an opportunity to nominate another HHS secretary, too. So much winning!
Dave (445e97) — 9/29/2017 @ 2:56 pmIn 2015, Justice Willett wrote a concurring opinion in Patel v. Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, which struck down a Texas state licensing scheme requiring eyebrow threaders to obtain cosmetology licenses necessitating 750 hours of training before they could legally work. Evidence showed that the overwhelming majority of these hours were not related to eyebrow threading. In concurrence Justice Willett wrote, “Threaders with no license are less menacing than government with unlimited license.”
mg (31009b) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:06 pmGreat Qoute. Plus he was a bull rider.
KELO*cough,cough then cough up a Citizens United hairball.
https://mobile.twitter.com/justicewillett/status/868663050588405760
Ben burn (07eab3) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:19 pmHe just might be another tie-breaker @SCOTUS.
Ben burn (07eab3) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:20 pm*tongue-in- cheek*
Ben burn (07eab3) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:21 pmBest. President. EVER.
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:33 pmTrump also nominated Texas Solicitor General James Ho. These are two fine jurists. We in Texas are fortunate our Senators have strong ties to intelligent, principled, conservative Texas lawyers and will push for their nominations.
DRJ (15874d) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:44 pmPoints in Trump’s favor;
Nobody who annoys that many Liberal Left twits can be all bad.
He is noticeably smarter than Shrillary. Of course there are things growing on damp bread that are noticeably smarter than Shrillary.
He makes good judicial nominations.
He plays by the rules at least a little better than Obama.
When he BREAKS the rules, the media won’t cover for him. Except, apparently, by accusing him of so much unprovable drivel that anything real gets lost in the noise. Oh, well.
C. S. P. Schofield (99bd37) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:46 pmI guess having a guy you like is more important than having a guy who does what you think right.
Who knew.
Poor Biggie (987b85) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:54 pmAnd worse yet, he is vilified for thin skin yet this is the guy he picked.
Makes you wonder just how wrong people are about the man.
Poor Biggie (987b85) — 9/29/2017 @ 3:56 pmif lovin Trump is wrong
i don’t wanna be right
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:02 pmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hIcKkKID8k
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:11 pmDRJ, so who gets to pick a good replacement for Willett? Our Governor?
felipe (023cc9) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:25 pmwhat’s wrong with the everything
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:25 pmContingent, of course, on Willett’s appointment.
felipe (023cc9) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:30 pmTexans have a flowing stream of good judges and the right people nominating them.
mg (31009b) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:31 pmthese people are sick and they think you are stupid
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:32 pmwould someone please to nominate the nauseatingly unctuous ted cruz to a non-speaking role
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:34 pmAlso, what are the prospects for replacements on the Ninth circuit?
felipe (023cc9) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:36 pm@20. Nobody likes him, Mr. Feet.
Too preachy.
Put him in a pantsuit and wig and he’d pass for you-know-who.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:41 pmhis wife?
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:42 pmI keep telling you, and telling you, and telling you, DCSCA and happyfeet both, that the only reason Cruz defended the law that took away your dildos was because it was his duty as Solicitor General. He had no hand in enacting it and as far as he’s concerned you can [censored] yourselves any way you want with anything you want.
nk (dbc370) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:51 pmhe’s still very ugly, not unlike his wife
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:55 pm“the only reason Cruz defended the law that took away your dildos was because it was his duty as Solicitor General.”
Now that’s funny
Ben burn (07eab3) — 9/29/2017 @ 4:59 pm@24.I keep telling you, and telling you, and telling you…
See. Preachy.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/29/2017 @ 5:23 pmYou notice how some stories diszapear down the memory hole:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/tenn-church-suspects-car-note-referencing-retaliation-dylann/story?id=50127618
Some tweeter who should have been in jail already was made a standing for everyone in the south, and even Bo and Luke duke were purged
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 5:28 pmA strange sort of backhanded compliment. Whatever one thinks of his personal style, he is hardly lacking in the intelligence dept. He entered the race and played by the rules of the game, first beating some 16 GOP rivals, many of them big name politicians in their own right from big states (Bush, Kasich, Cruz, Rubio, etc.), then went on to defeat Hillary Clinton (the World’s Smartest Woman) despite having about 90% of the media against him. Like him or not, to pull off such a feat requires an almost genius level of intelligence.
Eric (d70962) — 9/29/2017 @ 6:41 pmBlack people. You bleed red. Like the rest us. You are all in the same boat as the rest of us.
Quit this sh*t and maybe we can talk.
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:11 pmAfter I commented I paused, Patterco.
My comment could be taken as a threat but it isn’t. I hope you take it as cry for liberty,
Steve57 (0b1dac) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:22 pmyeah Mr. P’s all about that cry for liberty as long as one understands the seriousinherentlimitations of autocratic trumpiness and organic foods plus pussy grabbing
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:28 pmp.s. still waiting on my dildo what will be sexual pleasure plus also life fulfillment?
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:31 pmSigh.
nk (dbc370) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:36 pmhappyfeet is a great example of what Republicans have become with President Trump: Crude, childish and proud of it. The GOP used to be the adults in the room but now it’s a competition to see who can be the most crude or the most childish. It’s a good time to be an Independent.
DRJ (d35869) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:36 pm#3… Dave is a glass is 7/8s empty kinda guy, the darned conservative!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:38 pmThe GOP used to be the adults in the room…
LOL Whose hero called his wife, ‘Mommie.’
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:42 pmHe went to an expert, he sent huntsmen to Moscow in the most ransom of red chief exercise, woody Johnson seems to be doing more good over at grosvenor square then managing the jets.
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:45 pmomg
biteth thy tongue, woman
i was crude childish and proud of it well before President Trump so readily triumphed over the stinkypig
(being crude childish and proud of it about failmerican politics is rather admirable set against the declinist antics of poop-lick paul, sleazy mitch, and poop-stain war hero mccain do you not agree?)
i foreshadowed President Trump quite ably and with hefty sinew
i did that here at this very “blog”
ask Mr. Jester if you don’t belieber me
soon we’ll be making another run
set a course for adventure your mind on a new romance
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:49 pmHuntsmen chIef the Atlantic council one of whose tentacles is crowdstrike behind the grushenko nonsense
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:50 pmYou keep bringing that up, DCSCA. All it tells me is that you are not married with children. Married people with children fall into the habit of calling each other “Mama” and “Papa”, imitating their children. It may have even been more common at Dutch’s time growing up in downstate Illinois. “Mommie” is not significant as a variant if that’s what their kids called Nancy.
nk (dbc370) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:53 pmI think you would have to replace half the fifth circuit to make a difference..
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 7:56 pmBut he would be a good start:
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:01 pmhttps://pjmedia.com/instapundit/276971/
The thalosian more selective strategy is not working:
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:03 pmfreebeacon.com/politics/the-dnc-had-another-awful-fundraising-month
@41. LOL correction- his second wife, ‘Mommie.’
DCSCA (797bc0) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:06 pmI did not for a moment imagine that I would convince you, but other people read these comments too.
nk (dbc370) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:11 pmI didnr know about engelhardt who investigated that sordid big easy withhunt, some of the same players went after o’keefe an eon ago.
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:16 pmI don’t agree with anything you say and you are deluded if you think you haven’t changed.
DRJ (15874d) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:16 pmASPCA was wedded to his hand… for better, for worse, for richer, or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death – or rheumatoid arthritis- do they part.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:20 pmIts a start
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_5b480a2e-7073-5dfb-ac99-5a2e99934ae0.html
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:22 pmOT of two types, but that’s bad when the hip-hop NBA is lapping your league on this:
urbanleftbehind (847a06) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:27 pmhttp://deadspin.com/nba-memo-warns-teams-and-players-not-to-protest-during-1819015444
This little lady takes the #NeverTrump thing to an extreme… http://youtu.be/Gv_yVqJ_l9c
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:27 pmSo when do we sanction china, and close down their consulates:
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:31 pmhttp://freebeacon.com/national-security/fbi-eyes-china-posting-hacked-documents-chinese-dissident/amp
i’m the only constant really
let’s be free
happyfeet (28a91b) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:31 pmBTW, “Mami” and “Papi”, pronounced “Mommie” and “Poppie” and having the same meaning, are also what Puerto Ricans affectionately call their children.
nk (dbc370) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:33 pmFeels like ground hog day:
http://mississippipep.com/2017/09/29/walters-wickers-campaign-manager-checked-facts-casting-stones-mcdaniel
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 8:40 pmbabalublog.com/2017/09/29/60-of-havana-embassy-staff-ordered-to-return-to-u-s
narciso (d1f714) — 9/29/2017 @ 9:19 pmfelipe,
I think Abbott will name a successor for Willett until the next election. David Lat at Above The Law has speculated twice that Abbott will name his deputy general counsel, Andy Oldham, who was a finalist for the 5th Circuit nomination. Lat also says Oldham and another finalist, Reed O’Connor (Cornyn’s favorite), will likely get future nominations.
DRJ (d35869) — 9/30/2017 @ 2:53 amWillett’s term on the Texas Supreme Court ends in December 2018, so he will have to resign as a Texas Supreme Court justice if he is confirmed to the 5th Circuit court before that date. The Texas Governor has authority to appoint state judges when there is a vacancy due to resignation or death.
DRJ (d35869) — 9/30/2017 @ 2:58 amBut any appointment should only last until December 2018, when there will be an election for that office.
DRJ (d35869) — 9/30/2017 @ 2:59 amI left a comment about these nominations at The Jury.
DRJ (d35869) — 9/30/2017 @ 3:01 amI agree with mg’s comment above that “Texans have a flowing stream of good judges and the right people nominating them.” After the infamous “Sixty Minutes Court” of the mid-1980s, the turn-around point is marked, in hindsight, with perfect clarity in November 1987 — when Texas Gov. Bill Clements (R) appointed then-state district judge Thomas R. Phillips to fill the vacancy created when Chief Justice (and former Texas Attorney General) John Hill resigned mid-way through his six-year term.
Hill “claimed that the partisan election of judges was ‘creating a perception of impropriety’ and that he planned to devote his time to reforming the judicial system.” In fact what was creating the impropriety was the too-cozy relationship between the Texas Trial Lawyers Association (representing plaintiffs’ contingent-fee personal injury lawyers, many of whom actually almost never go to trial) and the Democratic judges then occupying most Texas trial and appellate benches. Hill himself wasn’t dirty — he’d been a business litigator before his election, and wasn’t that close to the TTLA members — but many of his colleagues on the Texas Supreme Court at that time emphatically were. Hill’s resignation and subsequent PR campaign didn’t result in any changes whatsoever to the methods by which Texas elects its trial and appellate judges — but it nevertheless triggered massive changes state-wide, simply by opening the seat at the top of the pyramid for Tom Phillips.
Phillips is a brilliant and capable lawyer, whom I had met briefly as I was joining and he was leaving Houston’s Baker Botts in 1981, when he had been appointed to fill a vacancy to the 280th District Court by Gov. Clements during his first (non-consecutive) term.
(An aside: I only appeared before Judge Phillips a handful of times, but one was in my very favorite-ever TRO hearing, in which I represented the corporation created by the members of the rock band “The Who” to jointly own its members’ marketing rights and related intellectual property. Before The Who played the Astrodome during its 1983 world tour, I sued the unknown persons whom we knew would be trying to sell counterfeit posters and tee-shirts outside, which would of course cut into the sales of such licensed items inside. Judge Phillips read my papers and said to me: “So if the band members had kept those rights directly in the band’s own name instead of creating a corporation to hold the rights for them, the name of this lawsuit instead would be ‘The Who vs. John Doe Nos. 1-99‘ — is that what you’re telling me, Mr. Dyer? This could have become the most famous case-name ever!”
Phillips was reelected to his Texas Supreme Court seat in his own right in 1988, then again in 1990, 1996, and 2002. He served with distinction and re-built the Texas Supreme Court into an institution that was widely respected for its jurisprudence instead of its corruption.
Building on Clements’ appointments, later Texas governors George W. Bush, Rick Perry, and Greg Abbott have all made superb appointments to fill open seats with Republican judges who’ve generally been able to then hang onto those seats in partisan elections. It is now indeed a genuine pipeline, in which electable and talented conservative lawyers have been spotted and appointed early enough in their careers to ensure, in turn, a large pool of well-qualified judges for appointment or election to higher state courts, and appointment by GOP presidents to the federal bench.
As for Willett and Ho: They are good appointments. I can’t help believing that those involved in the process were careful to keep Willett’s tweets from Trump, though. That wouldn’t have been hard: He’s utterly uninterested in judicial appointments except insofar as he can brag about them.
Beldar (fa637a) — 9/30/2017 @ 10:40 am