UPI News - GOP Worries Over Future of Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

December 18, 2006

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Republicans are concerned that the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., could turn from conservative to moderate or even liberal, reports say.

The court is experiencing a growing list of vacancies as several Republican appointees have left or announced plans to leave the bench, the Washington Post reported. The departures, coupled with the Democratic takeover of Congress, are causing increasing concern among Republicans and conservatives that the court's political direction could change.

The court has played a pivotal role in several high-profile terrorism-related cases and has established a reputation for conservative rulings and judicial personalities, the Post said.

Several of President George W. Bush's nominees to the court were already stalled before the Democrats won control of the Senate in the midterm elections, and Republicans are concerned the trend will continue.

"With the nature of the cases the court has been taking, especially on the terrorism issue, its direction is really critical," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the conservative American Center for Law and Justice.

The 15-member court has three vacancies, and a fourth judgeship is set to open in July, leaving the bench with six Republican and five Democratic appointees.