Buying Judgeships?

The Center for Investigative Reporting claims President George W. Bush nominated two people who gave him campaign donations while under consideration to the federal bench. While not illegal, it certainly doesn't pass the smell test. But is anything the nation's worst president does not suspect?

President Bush chose to fill two high-level positions yesterday with federal judges who had given him campaign contributions while under consideration for their judgeships.

Bush nominated Judge Gene Pratter, of Pennsylvania, to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a level just below the U.S. Supreme Court. Pratter, who was featured in the CIR report, “Money Trails to the Federal Bench,” gave $2,000 to Bush in 2003, after interviewing with the White House for her judgeship.

Bush also picked Judge Mark Filip, of Illinois, to be deputy attorney general, the No. 2 spot in the Justice Department. Filip gave Bush $2,000 in 2003, after the president nominated him for his judgeship, as earlier reported by CIR.

There are no laws against political contributions by a judicial candidate, but some ethics experts and federal judges say that it is inappropriate.