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Reagan-Appointed Judges Now Conservative ‘Superstars’

Posted May 12, 2008, 09:20 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

Many federal appeals judges appointed by President Ronald Reagan are now at the height of their power, issuing conservative opinions on hot-button issues like affirmative action, so-called partial-birth abortions and gun rights.

A USA Today story on how these judges are shaping the law said they were “young, brainy and bold” when appointed to the bench in the 1980s. “Reagan's enduring legacy shows the power a president has in shaping the law—not just at the Supreme Court, which gets so much attention, but also in the midlevel appeals courts,” the story says.

Reagan appointed 83 appellate judges, and 66 are still hearing cases. The first President Bush appointed 42 appeals judges, President Clinton appointed 66, and the… Continue reading...

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