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WESTON RESIDENT IN DOUBT AS SUPERIOR COURT NOMINEE
By Colleen Quinn
State House News Service
Posted Nov 22, 2013 @ 02:54 PM
Saying he hadn't had a chance to work on rounding up votes to ensure
confirmation, Gov. Deval Patrick prevented the Governor's Council
from voting on judicial nominee Joseph Berman, the governor's pick
for a Superior Court judgeship.
Councilor Marilyn Devaney, who criticized Berman, a Weston resident,
during his confirmation hearing last week for being part of an
organization that refuses to recognize the Armenian genocide, objected
to the governor postponing the vote.
"I have great respect for you, but I object to this," Devaney said
to Patrick.
She said she had a letter from five councilors, a majority of the
eight-member panel, who planned to vote against Berman's confirmation.
"I find no joy in this governor, but it is the right thing to do,"
she said.
Councilor Robert Jubinville asked Patrick to reconsider postponing.
Patrick said, "Thank you. I'm going to postpone the vote."
Berman came under fire last Wednesday for his membership in the
Anti-Defamation League, $110,000 in campaign contributions, and his
representation of a prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
At the start of the hearing, before his character witnesses finished
testifying, councilors criticized Berman for belonging to the ADL.
Berman is a board member of the New England chapter.
Devaney called the ADL hypocritical because it refuses to recognize
the Armenian genocide by the Turks. She said she has a bias against the
ADL that she would be unable to put aside when considering the nominee.
Councilor Jennie Caissie said she objected to letters the organization
writes to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee prior to judicial
candidate hearings. Caissie called the letters "bona fide litmus tests"
on issues ranging from abortion to the First Amendment. She said she
is troubled by the positions of the ADL, and criticized Berman for
not withdrawing from the group.
Caissie said she was concerned Berman would be an activist judge.
"I am going to work hard to get the votes. I have not had an
opportunity to do that," Patrick said. "I think this is a candidate
who is more than ready to serve."
Devaney said she thinks the council members will not change their
minds.
Berman, who is a partner at the Boston law firm Looney & Grossman,
was questioned for more than four hours by the council last week. He
graduated from Dartmouth College and received his law degree from The
University of Michigan Law School. His practice focuses on commercial
litigation, trying several cases in Superior Court each year.
Berman, 49, told councilors he was tempted to resign from the ADL,
but changed his mind because the organization does significant work in
many areas. He thought one commission member resigning would not make
a difference, and decided to stay and work for change from the inside.
Read more:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/weston/news/x1275645286/Weston-resident-in-doubt-as-Superior-Court-nominee#ixzz2lfyqhacW
Follow us: WestonTownCrier on Facebook
By Colleen Quinn
State House News Service
Posted Nov 22, 2013 @ 02:54 PM
Saying he hadn't had a chance to work on rounding up votes to ensure
confirmation, Gov. Deval Patrick prevented the Governor's Council
from voting on judicial nominee Joseph Berman, the governor's pick
for a Superior Court judgeship.
Councilor Marilyn Devaney, who criticized Berman, a Weston resident,
during his confirmation hearing last week for being part of an
organization that refuses to recognize the Armenian genocide, objected
to the governor postponing the vote.
"I have great respect for you, but I object to this," Devaney said
to Patrick.
She said she had a letter from five councilors, a majority of the
eight-member panel, who planned to vote against Berman's confirmation.
"I find no joy in this governor, but it is the right thing to do,"
she said.
Councilor Robert Jubinville asked Patrick to reconsider postponing.
Patrick said, "Thank you. I'm going to postpone the vote."
Berman came under fire last Wednesday for his membership in the
Anti-Defamation League, $110,000 in campaign contributions, and his
representation of a prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
At the start of the hearing, before his character witnesses finished
testifying, councilors criticized Berman for belonging to the ADL.
Berman is a board member of the New England chapter.
Devaney called the ADL hypocritical because it refuses to recognize
the Armenian genocide by the Turks. She said she has a bias against the
ADL that she would be unable to put aside when considering the nominee.
Councilor Jennie Caissie said she objected to letters the organization
writes to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee prior to judicial
candidate hearings. Caissie called the letters "bona fide litmus tests"
on issues ranging from abortion to the First Amendment. She said she
is troubled by the positions of the ADL, and criticized Berman for
not withdrawing from the group.
Caissie said she was concerned Berman would be an activist judge.
"I am going to work hard to get the votes. I have not had an
opportunity to do that," Patrick said. "I think this is a candidate
who is more than ready to serve."
Devaney said she thinks the council members will not change their
minds.
Berman, who is a partner at the Boston law firm Looney & Grossman,
was questioned for more than four hours by the council last week. He
graduated from Dartmouth College and received his law degree from The
University of Michigan Law School. His practice focuses on commercial
litigation, trying several cases in Superior Court each year.
Berman, 49, told councilors he was tempted to resign from the ADL,
but changed his mind because the organization does significant work in
many areas. He thought one commission member resigning would not make
a difference, and decided to stay and work for change from the inside.
Read more:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/weston/news/x1275645286/Weston-resident-in-doubt-as-Superior-Court-nominee#ixzz2lfyqhacW
Follow us: WestonTownCrier on Facebook