ABA: 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals nominee "unqualified"

For the first time in 24 years, the American Bar Association has rated a federal judicial nominee as "unqualified". According to the article, the ABA says of Bush's nominee to the New Orleans based 5th Circuit Court of Appeals:

"Please be advised that, as a result of our investigation, the committee is of the unanimous opinion that Michael B. Wallace, Esq., is Not Qualified for appointment as judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit."

Furthermore, Wallace has never been a judge, the NAACP says he is "too conservative", and civil rights groups are concerned about his past activities such as supporting Bob Jones University's right to discriminate and still receive federal funding and fighting to require victims of voter discrimination to prove intent.

People for the American Way says the nomination is motivated by "Bush's desire to pack the federal courts with right-wing ideologues." Really? You think?

If Wallace is confirmed, he would hear appeals from federal courts in Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. But there's never been any civil rights violations or discrimination or voter disenfranchisement in any of those places, right?

So who is this Wallace guy and how did he get nominated? It turns out he's a pal of Trent Lott, and according to his resume was "Special Impeachment Counsel to Senate Majority Leader Lott for the impeachment trial of President Clinton."

OK, then.