Judge James Robart is a reminder of just what is at stake in Supreme Court nominations. The media is widely describing Robart, who issued the blatantly unconstitutional restraining order on President Trump's action to protect Americans, as a Bush nominee. That's a deeply sad truth. And a reminder of how dangerous nominating the wrong man can be.
Calling Robart a clown and a judicial activist would be an insult to both. Robart has been an egomaniac and a narcissist on the bench who thrives on exactly the sort of attention he is getting now.
His unconstitutional TRO is not the lowest and most disgraceful point in his career. This was.
Seattle had been browbeaten by Obama's DOJ on one of its pro-criminal rampages, and was being forced to implement an illegal decree. And Robart got on his high horse in a typically clownish manner.
In a Monday hearing, Robart lashed out at the union for holding up the reform process.
“The court and the citizens of Seattle will not be held hostage for increased payments and benefits,” he said from the bench. “I’m sure the entire city of Seattle would march behind me.”
Then, Robart stunned the courtroom by explicitly tying the proceedings to the Black Lives Matter movement. According to The Seattle Times, he cited statistics that blacks represent 41 percent of all people shot by police, when they are just 20 percent of the population. This is a mistake on Robart’s part; blacks are actually just 13 percent of the population.
“Black lives matter,” Robart said to end his remarks, in a moment that apparently produced audible shock from the courtroom.
So Judge Robart endorsed a racist hate group from the bench while lying about the numbers. He should have been removed then. He should still be removed. No judge who endorsed the KKK would be allowed to remain on the bench. Now Robart has endangered American lives in pursuit of another 15 minutes of fame.