Another Outrageous Obama Appointment: Justice Hamilton

Republicans walked out of a confirmation hearing for Hoosier David Hamilton, Obama's appointment of to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, because there hasn't been enough time to examine Hamilton's previous rulings.

In 2005, Judge Hamilton ruled that the 1st Amendment bans the practice of opening the chamber's business with prayers mentioning Jesus Christ or using terms such as "Savior" since that would amounted to state endorsement of a religion. Judge Hamilton wrote: "The injunction orders the Speaker not to permit sectarian prayers and to advise those offering official prayers "(a) that the prayers must be non-sectarian and must not be used to proselytize or advance any one faith or belief or to disparage any other faith or belief, and (b) that the prayers should not use Christ's name or title or any other denominational appeal." Hamilton, moreover, said that praying to "Allah" does not violate the 1st Amendment.

In 2003, Judge Hamilton struck down part of an Indiana law on abortion. The law had required abortion clinics to give women information about alternatives to abortion in the presence of a physician or nurse, 18 hours before the procedure. The 7th Circuit court also reversed Hamilton's bad decision in that case and now he's been appointed to that very court that has frequently overruled him.