Governor Names Justices for Own Case

[Judi Lynn]

Governor Names Justices for Own Case

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 26, 2006
FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 25 (AP) — In an odd twist to the state hiring scandal, Gov. Ernie Fletcher appointed two special State Supreme Court justices on Friday to help decide whether a grand jury can continue issuing indictments against members of his administration.

The appointees will fill in temporarily for two justices who recused themselves in December. Kentucky's Constitution says it is up to the governor to fill any vacancies on the seven-member court when two or more justices have declined to sit for a particular case.

The grand jury, impaneled by Attorney General Greg D. Stumbo, a Democrat, has been investigating whether administration officials broke state law by basing personnel decisions on political considerations instead of candidates' qualifications.

"It is unprecedented for the governor's office to choose the judges in its own case," Mr. Stumbo said in a statement. "All parties should disclose any prior contacts with the special justices."
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/26/national/26kentucky.html?_r=1&oref=slogin



Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher

[truthisfreedom]

1. wild.

[UrbScotty]

3. Unless you're Republican (nt)

[mom cat]

2. Something along the lines of Bush appointing Roberts and Alito who

might very well be called upon to sit in judgement of Bush. I see that the Kentucky govenor has been taking notes.

[TaleWgnDg]

4. Kentucky's constitution nor legislative body hasn't thought about

conflicts of interest in the Governor's Office? Oh, sheesh, then maybe Kentucky's learning curve has just begun. That is, to change its constitution if necessary or to legislate to prevent conflicts of interest!

How simple can it get?

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. How did it get this god damn crazy?

[depakid]

6. True to Republican form!

As long as the Dems in this country let them get away with this- I don't know why they wouldn't try!

[annabanana]

7. Ummm Why didn't he

recuse himself? Is there anyone in Ky who can stick a wrench in this scheme?

[flordehinojos]

8. might as well just declare any proceedings against him null and void.

appointing friends to investigate and getting a clean slate is one and the same thing. the bushes do it all the time. so now the bushes have a blue print, not only on how to steal elections, they also have a blue print on how to get a clean slate when you are guilty as hell. too bad saddam hussein cannot appoint a judge of his own to oversee his court case in iraq!

[AndyA]

9. No conflict of interest clauses in Kentucky's Constitution?

Seems like a back up plan would have been a good thing to provide.

Yet another HUGE REPUBLICAN CONFLICT OF INTEREST!

[Shelor]

10. KY Attorney General calls on judges to recuse themselves (link)

Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo says two substitutes named to the state Supreme Court by Gov. Ernie Fletcher should disqualify themselves because they have contributed to Fletcher's political campaigns.

The justices were appointed to hear a case involving an investigation by Stumbo's office of hiring practices within Fletcher's administration.

"To preserve the integrity of the court and the integrity of the process, the proper thing for them to do is to recuse themselves voluntarily," Stumbo said Saturday.



http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/K/KY_POLITICAL_PERSONNEL_KYOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-02-26-13-10-13

[Judi Lynn]

11. It's simply unbelievable. Crude, stark, crooked. Republicans have NO

ordinary inhibitions about being obvious once they believe they've got the power.

From the artaicle:

"All of this is so unprecedented to begin with - the fact one party to a case can appoint his own justices," Stumbo said.

I hate to see the slime get by with this.