Contact: Sean Rushton (202) 481-6853
September 26, 2006
Reuben Anderson, the First African-American on the Mississippi Supreme Court and a Bill Clinton Campaign Supporter, Testifies in Support of Wallace
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Washington, D.C. - Committee for Justice (CFJ), which promotes constitutionalist judicial nominees, today asked the Senate to quickly pass Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals nominee Michael Wallace out of committee and to confirm him on the Senate floor.
Earlier this year the American Bar Association surprisingly rated Wallace as unqualified despite an extremely impressive academic and professional record. In fact, the last organization to investigate the former Supreme Court clerk, the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers, was impressed enough to admit him to their ranks, a rare honor currently bestowed on fewer than 400 lawyers in the country.
"The ridiculous rating given Mike Wallace has more to do with the politicization of the ABA ratings process and personal animus toward Wallace by high-ranking members of the ABA than with Wallace's actual qualifications," CFJ Executive Director Sean Rushton said. "Wallace is being attacked by the usual assortment of liberal groups, but both his personal and his professional career show that charge to be false."
Reuben Anderson, a partner at Wallace's law firm, testified today in support of Wallace. Mr. Anderson is a well-respected lawyer with several historic accomplishments including being the first African-American to graduate from the University of Mississippi School of Law, and the first African-American on the Mississippi Supreme Court. As the Co-Chairman of President Bill Clinton's Mississippi campaign in 1996, Mr. Anderson is one of several Democrats supporting Wallace's nomination.
"If the liberal groups' attacks had any truth to them, Mr. Anderson and the eight other African-American lawyers in Wallace's firm would not work with him, much less support his nomination," Rushton continued. "Further, the record shows Wallace has worked on numerous occasions on the behalf of minorities, including on a pro bono basis."
Rushton concluded, "Any objective person can look at Wallace's incredibly impressive resume and see that he has the education, the intellect, and the experience to sit on the federal bench. Chairman Specter has done a commendable job to give Wallace a fair hearing despite Democratic obstruction, and now it will soon be up to Majority Leader Frist to give him a fair vote."