ADA Watch opposes Southwick for federal judge…

Here’s an excerpt from the group’s letter to Leahy and Specter:

“We are writing to express our strong opposition to the nomination of Judge Leslie Southwick to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. A large portion of Judge Southwick’s record remains unexamined, as he has failed to provide to the Senate Judiciary Committee the unpublished opinions he joined     while serving more than a decade on the Mississippi  [Supreme Court]. The record he has produced reflects a harsh insensitivity to the politically powerless, a serious hostility to plaintiffs in employment cases, and an acceptance of the radical theory of “the Constitution in Exile,” which could undercut the ability of the Federal government to use regulations to protect the rights of people with disabilities. From his past decisions and academic writings, we do not believe that Judge Southwick will adequately provide equal justice under the law or fairly interpret federal statutory protections for people with disabilities. He should not be confirmed to a lifetime appointment on a court that regularly decides crucial issues of federal law.