Making the National a bit more Local

In the Miami Herald: John G. Roberts, President Bush's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, played a role in the chaotic, 36-day period following the disputed 2000 presidential election.

And in the LA Times: Roberts' low-profile role as an advisor to Republicans during the 2000 presidential recount fight is likely to be closely scrutinized.

These are both stories about supreme court nominee John G. Roberts, and the role he played in Florida 5 years ago. The stories above argue that Judge Roberts now might appear to partisan and a Highlight of the Miami Herald article is a bit on Congressman Wexler:

"U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, a Boca Raton Democrat, seized on Roberts' participation in the 2000 recount and suggested it should be grounds for rejecting his nomination. Wexler suggested the nomination ``threw salt on the wounds of the thousands of Floridians whose voting rights were disenfranchised during the 2000 election.
''Judge Roberts worked to ensure that George Bush would become president -- regardless of what the courts might decide,'' Wexler said, relying on news accounts that suggested Roberts gave the governor advice on how the state Legislature could name Bush the winner. ``And now he is being rewarded for that partisan service by being appointed to the nation's highest court.''

There are a lot of organizations discussing why or why not John Roberts should be a Supreme, but this issue, that happened here in Tallahassee, is definitely something to consider.