Romney jurist picks not tilted to GOP
Conservative or Moderate?
BC-Governor Mitt Romney, who touts his conservative credentials to out-of-state Republicans, has passed over GOP lawyers for three-quarters of the 36 judicial vacancies he has faced, instead tapping registered Democrats or independents — including two gay lawyers who have supported expanded same-sex rights, a Globe review of the nominations has found.
Of the 36 people Romney named to be judges or clerk magistrates, 23 are either registered Democrats or unenrolled voters who have made multiple contributions to Democratic politicians or who voted in Democratic primaries, state and local records show. In all, he has nominated nine registered Republicans, 13 unenrolled voters, and 14 registered Democrats.
With increased attention on judicial nominees after President Bush’s nomination of John G. Roberts Jr. to the US Supreme Court, Romney said Friday that he has not paid a moment’s notice to his nominees’ political leanings or sexual orientation — or to the impact his choices might have on a future presidential run. He said he has focused on two factors: their legal experience and whether the nominees would be tough on crime. He said most of the nominees have prosecutorial experience.
”People on both sides of the aisle want to put the bad guys away,” Romney said.
