Another “radical activist” (Republican) judge

By Timothy Kincaid-


In what is becoming a strong ironic trend, yet another judge who has found that gay people are, well, citizens like everyone else and constitutionally protected from discrimination turns out to be a Republican. As we noted last week, U.S. District Judge Ronald Leighton ordered the Air Force to reinstate Major Margaret Witt, saying

The application of “Dont’s Ask Don’t Tell” to Major Margaret Witt does not significantly further the government’s interest in promoting military readiness, unit morale and cohesion. Her discharge from the Air Force Reserves violated her substantive due process rights under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. She should be restored to her position as a Flight Nurse with the 446th AES as soon as is practicable, subject to meeting applicable regulations touching upon qualifications necessary for continued service.

Now the Seattle Times tells us a bit more about Judge Leighton:

Leighton, 59, was appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush in January 2002 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November of that year.
An active Republican and longtime Tacoma trial attorney, Leighton twice served on fundraising committees for former Sen. Slade Gorton.
Gorton, the state’s last Republican senator, championed Leighton twice as a federal judicial nominee. The first nomination came from George H.W. Bush in 1992, but the Senate failed to act on the nomination before Bush Sr. left office.

I noticed that this time the usual suspects didn’t even trot out the “liberal activist judge” accusations. They must really be disheartened by now.

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