Monday, February 23, 2004

WASHINGTON (BP)--In a recess appointment, President Bush placed William Pryor on the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Feb. 20.

Pryor -- Alabama’s attorney general and one of six Bush appeals court nominees filibustered by Senate Democrats -- will serve until January 2005, when the next Congress is sworn in. Until then, Pryor’s appointment will not have to be confirmed.

Pryor, Charles Pickering -- who was placed by Bush on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals by recess appointment Jan. 16 -- and the other four nominees all have received enough votes for confirmation but not the 60 votes needed to overcome “the unprecedented obstructionist tactics,” as Bush put it, of Democratic filibusters.

Bush issued a three-paragraph statement Feb. 20 concerning his recess appointment of Pryor, a Catholic layman who has been Alabama’s attorney general since 1997. More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told the state's attorney general Feb. 20 to take legal action against the city of San Francisco, hours after a judge refused to stop the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples within the city.

"Our civilized society and legal system is based upon a respect for and adherence to the rule of law," the letter to Attorney General Bill Lockyer said, according to the Associated Press. "The City and County of San Francisco's unfortunate choice to disregard state law and grant marriage certificates to gay couples directly undermines this fundamental guarantee. As Attorney General, you have the authority to take legal action to require the City and County of San Francisco to comply with the laws of the State."

Schwarzenegger made the announcement at the state Republican Party convention Feb. 20 and criticized the judges who have handled the case.

"We rely on our courts to enforce the rule of law. But you see, in San Francisco, the courts are dropping the ball," Schwarzenegger told supporters. "It's time for the city to stop traveling down this dangerous path of ignoring the rule of law. That's my message to San Francisco." More...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Gary LaRoy has canceled his subscription to his local newspaper and is encouraging others to do the same because of the paper's failure to "reflect the values and morals of the community it serves."

"There is a fiduciary responsibility that the news media has to be reflective of the community, and I don't think our local media -- specifically The Tennessean -- is for the most part," LaRoy said, speaking of the Nashville, Tenn., newspaper owned by Gannett.

Specifically, LaRoy was upset when The Tennessean ran a picture of Britney Spears and Madonna kissing at the MTV music video awards show. The newspaper placed the photo on the front of its Living section Feb. 14, Valentine's Day.

The photo was part of a feature about kisses, including what the paper dubbed Best Kiss, Most Infamous Kiss, Longest Kiss and Largest Kiss. The Spears-Madonna incident was tagged Most Infamous. More...