Governor Rell withdrew the nomination of Judge John R. Downey to the Connecticut Appellate Court on Wednesday, one day after Downey's views on illegal immigrants and positive comments about deceased segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond dominated his confirmation hearing.
Downey asked Rell to withdraw his name in the face of a legislative inquiry about his statements in Superior Court that undocumented immigrants had no right to the state's civil courts. With his eight-year term as a Superior Court judge over in 18 months, Downey will face a hostile confirmation hearing over his immigration statements if Rell decides to reappoint him in 2009.
The Governor should not reappoint this man and the state bar should look into how his comments may negatively impact his ability to function as a lawyer in this state if he is not reappointed. This was a mistake from the start to appoint this legally challenged judge. The next best step is for the legislature to move to have him removed from the superior court. There is no way he can serve and not be suspect after this incident.
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