U law professor Paul Cassell will serve as a District Court Judge for the District of Utah after the United States Senate confirmed him on May 13.
Though the Senate voted Cassell through to serve on the United States District Court, the 20 votes against him mark the largest number of votes against a candidate of any of Bush’s 57 judicial nominees so far.
Cassell’s work with criminal law issues has placed him in disfavor with some in the Senate, including Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.
“Professor Cassell has shown himself to be intemperate and one-sided?this man does not belong on the court,” Kennedy told the Associated Press.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, defended Cassell telling the AP he is “one of the most qualified people ever nominated to the district court bench.”
Cassell is an open supporter of the death penalty, he has worked to redefine the Miranda warning, which police officers must read to criminals upon an arrest. It is this effort to weaken protections for suspected criminals that has drawn criticism from many senators.
Cassell has also worked with victims of the Oklahoma City bombings and won a $14.5 million restitution award for the families of victims from conspirator Terry Nichols.
Cassell was first nominated by President Bush on June 19, 2001 after Judge David Sam took senior status at the District Court. The Senate Judiciary Committee upheld Bush’s nomination, voting 5-4 to confirm Cassell to the position on May 2.