USA: BUSH ABOLISCE PRIVILEGIO ORDINE AVVOCATI SU GIUDICI

 WASHINGTON, 22 MAR - Il presidente americano GeorgeW. Bush ha posto fine oggi al ruolo consultivo svolto da mezzo secolo dall'American Bar Association (Aba), l'Ordine degli avvocati americani, per le nomine giudiziarie. Da oggi l'amministrazione non anticipera' all'Aba, un organismo considerato ''troppo liberal'' dai conservatori, i nomi delle persone alle quali intende affidare l'incarico di giudice. Il consigliere legale della Casa Bianca, Alberto Gonzales, ha informato il presidente dell'Aba, Martha Barnett, delle decisione, ha detto il portavoce Scott McClellan. ''Anche se il presidente e' lieto a ricevere i suggerimenti dell'Aba sulle nomine giudiziarie, non intende notificare in anticipo l'identita' dei candidati'', ha detto Gonzales in una lettera a Barnett, il contenuto della quale e' stato reso noto dalla Casa Bianca.

The White House and the Bar President Bush has decided to end the American Bar Association'sadvisory role in the selection of federal judges. It is a misguideddecision. The A.B.A.'s counsel has served the nation well for halfa century. The decision also seems wildly at odds with Mr. Bush'scampaign pledge to avoid ideological litmus tests in theappointment of judges. Finally, it could well backfire by making judicial confirmation battles more politicized than they would bewithout the A.B.A.'s professional seal of approval.In 1953 President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked the lawyers' group toreview the qualifications of nominees to the federal bench. His aimwas to ensure that patronage would not lead to the lifetimeappointment of mediocre judges. Every administration since then hasbenefited from the A.B.A.'s confidential role in evaluatingpotential nominees before they are named. The bar's stamp ofapproval also gave people confidence that federal judges werehighly regarded members of the profession.Mr. Bush's removal of the A.B.A. from the screening process isanother signal that he appears willing to grant the mostconservative elements within his party, led by Attorney GeneralJohn Ashcroft, control over judicial matters. Right-wingRepublicans have long made the selection of conservative judges oneof their chief objectives.Federal judges are the primary guardians of Americans'constitutional rights, and it will now be incumbent upon senatorsto guard against efforts to pack the court system with ideologuesintent on eroding these rights. Because the retirement of a singlesenator could give Democrats a majority in that chamber and controlover the confirmation process, the White House is eager to fill asmany of the approximately 100 vacancies on the federal bench asquickly as possible. (...) Just as President Dwight D. Eisenhower intended,the A.B.A.'s involvement has served as a deterrent to thenomination of undeserving judges. It is a shame that the White House is doing away with this confidence-building safeguard.