Trump nominates a great judge … again

President reached into my neck of the woods to nominate another great judge for a lifetime appointment to the United States Federal District Court for southern Florida.  In fact, he plucked his choice from the overwhelmingly liberal Democratic Broward County.

The nomination of Anuraag “Raag” Singhal – who currently serves as a Circuit Court judge – has previously served as an assistant state attorney and a criminal defense lawyer.  He had previously served as president of the Broward Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (BACDL).  Singhal is a first generation American.  His parents migrated to the United States from India.

In view of the bogus racist narratives being flung at Trump, the appointment of a minority is likely to conflict the politically correct Democrats in dealing with this nomination.  Even so, the hardcore left will do everything they can to destroy the reputation of Singhal.  It will not be easy.

Singhal has earned a primo reputation within the legal community – including from Democrats.  That is significant since the judge is considered politically and judicially conservative.  For conservatives, Singhal is a diamond among political cinders.

Singhal has been a member of the Federalist Society – an organization that vets and recommends highly qualified conservative judges for high court appointments.  He is also a member of another conservative legal professional organization, the Thomas More Society.

This has not stopped the local legal establishment – mostly Democrats – from heaping high praise in Singhal.  The man who succeeded him as president of BACDL, Democrat State Representative says Singhal is “a “lawyer’s lawyer” who represented his clients with “intensity and integrity … no theatrics, just true grit.”

The former mayor of Ft. Lauderdale, Jack Seiler,  referred to Singhal a “a very thoughtful, intellectual judge. He treats everybody with respect, whether you’re a lawyer, a juror, a party, a witness,” – adding that “Integrity again comes to mind when thinking of his career as a judge.”

Singhal has handled several very controversial cases.  He ruled that deposed Election Supervisor Brenda Snipes had broken the law when she prematurely destroyed thousands of ballots during a challenge.  He was assigned to handle the risk assessment of those who were subjected to the new Red Flag law enabling law enforcement to seize weapons from those believed to be potentially dangerous.  The law was enacted after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

As a District judge, Singhal will not make determinations of constitutionality.  He will basically deal with matters of fact in civil and criminal cases.  But this is a guy who could easily rise to the Appellate and even the Supreme Court.  We should keep an eye on Singhal when there is another vacancy on the highest court in the land.

So, there ‘tis.

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