Von Spakovsky's Attack On Judicial Nominee Falls Flat

Earlier this month, conservative activist Hans von Spakovsky penned a Pajamas Media post accusing James Graves, an African American Mississippi Supreme Court justice, of engaging in racism in favor of African Americans in his judicial decision-making. As we documented, the charge was highly dubious, especially in light of the strong Republican support Graves received when President Obama nominated him to a federal judgeship.

Senate Republicans and Democrats have now resoundingly rejected von Spakovsky's attack, confirming Graves to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, one step below the Supreme Court by a voice vote -- a procedure reserved for non-controversial judicial nominees. On the Senate floor, Republican Sen. Roger Wicker (MS) said: “I am proud today to speak on behalf of Justice Graves. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of his nomination to the Fifth Circuit.” And Republican Sen. Thad Cochran (MS) said: “It is with pride and pleasure that I am able to recommend to the Senate the confirmation of Justice James E. Graves, Jr.”

Now, this isn't the only half-baked racism charge that von Spakovsky has made. He often hypes the trumped-up charges that the Justice Department mishandled a voter intimidation case involving the New Black Panther Party and allegations that the President Obama's Justice Department has a policy of not enforcing voting rights laws in a race-neutral fashion.

Let's hope that congressional Republicans give von Spakovsky's New Black Panther Party allegations the same credence they gave to his charges against Graves.