Thursday, December 15, 2005
Conservative Judge Dominates Cobb County Appeal
Judge Ed Carnes, 55, is a 1992 appointee of President George H.W. Bush to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. According to news reports, he dominated much of the 40-minute Cobb County sticker hearing today by tearing apart sections of U.S. District Court Judge Clarence Cooper's January ruling ordering the removal of stickers declaring evolution "a theory, not a fact."
Carnes joined the court in 1992. He once served as Alabama's assistant attorney general in charge of death-penalty appeals. On the 11th Circuit, Carnes is one of the court's most conservative jurists and regarded for the care he takes to write his opinions --- sometimes coating them with sarcasm and humor and at other times taking direct aim at fellow judges who disagree with him, according to Bill Rankin of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Here's a rundown on the other judges who heard the appeal today from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (sub. req.):
Frank Hull, 57, Atlanta, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. She joined the court in 1997. Her first name was passed down by her great-grandmother. Hull was the first female partner of the Atlanta firm Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy and has served on both the Fulton County Superior Court and U.S. district court benches. Hull is one of five judges on the 12-member court appointed by Democratic presidents.
Bill Pryor, 43, Birmingham, an appointee of President Bush who joined the court in 2004 via a controversial recess appointment after the Senate filibustered his nomination. A Senate compromise this summer led to his formal confirmation. As Alabama attorney general, Pryor successfully obtained an order to oust Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore from the Supreme Court for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state Judicial Building.
Carnes joined the court in 1992. He once served as Alabama's assistant attorney general in charge of death-penalty appeals. On the 11th Circuit, Carnes is one of the court's most conservative jurists and regarded for the care he takes to write his opinions --- sometimes coating them with sarcasm and humor and at other times taking direct aim at fellow judges who disagree with him, according to Bill Rankin of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Here's a rundown on the other judges who heard the appeal today from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (sub. req.):
Frank Hull, 57, Atlanta, an appointee of President Bill Clinton. She joined the court in 1997. Her first name was passed down by her great-grandmother. Hull was the first female partner of the Atlanta firm Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy and has served on both the Fulton County Superior Court and U.S. district court benches. Hull is one of five judges on the 12-member court appointed by Democratic presidents.
Bill Pryor, 43, Birmingham, an appointee of President Bush who joined the court in 2004 via a controversial recess appointment after the Senate filibustered his nomination. A Senate compromise this summer led to his formal confirmation. As Alabama attorney general, Pryor successfully obtained an order to oust Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore from the Supreme Court for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the state Judicial Building.
