Huntsman: "It's a shame."
In Stephen Hunt's article today on the Senate confirmation defeat of Judge Robert Hilder to the Utah Court of Appeals, you can read a couple of quotes from Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
Space always limits how much of what someone says gets in the paper. But because we don't have that problem in the blog, here are all of Huntsman's quotes from our interview with him following the Senate vote.
"It's a very strange way to compliment somebody on reaching the pinnacle of success in their career.
"My job is to find the best suited professional for positions that are as important as the bench, and in this case the appellate court. You basically look at three things in all the interviews I've done, one you look at intellectual acuity. Two, you look at experience, the kind of experience that is commensurate with the job they are interviewing (for). Three, is that large, unquantifiable called temperament. Judicial temperament.
"I kind of know it when I see it and Bob Hilder by every estimation is one of the premiere experts in the legal community, evidently well qualified for the position. Even some of those who I interviewed who didn't get the job mentioned that after the interviews had taken place.
"I would hope that it doesn't represent a new era of politics in the confirmation process. I certainly hope that is not the case because I will continue to look for the best and brightest and the most qualified for these positions.
"I don't necessarily play favorites of litmus tests and partisan affiliation. I simply look for the best. And I rely a lot upon recommendations from the professional communities. And I heard nothing but uniform praise about Bob Hilder. And I still believe he is one of the best legal minds in our state. And it's a shame that he . . . was voted down."
-- Thomas Burr
Space always limits how much of what someone says gets in the paper. But because we don't have that problem in the blog, here are all of Huntsman's quotes from our interview with him following the Senate vote.
"It's a very strange way to compliment somebody on reaching the pinnacle of success in their career.
"My job is to find the best suited professional for positions that are as important as the bench, and in this case the appellate court. You basically look at three things in all the interviews I've done, one you look at intellectual acuity. Two, you look at experience, the kind of experience that is commensurate with the job they are interviewing (for). Three, is that large, unquantifiable called temperament. Judicial temperament.
"I kind of know it when I see it and Bob Hilder by every estimation is one of the premiere experts in the legal community, evidently well qualified for the position. Even some of those who I interviewed who didn't get the job mentioned that after the interviews had taken place.
"I would hope that it doesn't represent a new era of politics in the confirmation process. I certainly hope that is not the case because I will continue to look for the best and brightest and the most qualified for these positions.
"I don't necessarily play favorites of litmus tests and partisan affiliation. I simply look for the best. And I rely a lot upon recommendations from the professional communities. And I heard nothing but uniform praise about Bob Hilder. And I still believe he is one of the best legal minds in our state. And it's a shame that he . . . was voted down."
-- Thomas Burr
12:52 PM
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3 Comments:
If it was such a shame, then why wasn't the governor twisting arms in the senate to get this guy confirmed? It's not cool to leave your nominee twisting in the wind like that.
So where does the Governor include whether a judicial nominee upholds the rule of law and respects and honors the Constitution within his selection criteria? Very important yet not on his list of criteria.
It doesn't matter how smart the judge is if he doesn't respect the Constution and recognize the limited role of the judiciary.
I'm glad the governor sees the problem, but since he IS the GOVERNOR, why doesn't he say something a little more forceful, such as "this was wrong, it was politics at its worst, and I will be meeting with Sen. Pres.-elect Mike Waddoups to discuss this travesty of a confirmation process"?
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