Four dozen federal judgeship openings waiting for Obama

Sunday, November 9, 2008 By MARK SHERMAN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President-elect Obama will enter office with an immediate opportunity to begin shaping the federal courts by filling four dozen openings on trial and appellate courts. Federal judges, with lifetime appointments, can be a president's most enduring legacy. President Bush receives uniformly high marks from Republicans, even those who criticized him on other issues, for his selection of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. Public attention typically is focused on the Supreme Court, where five justices are older than 70. Speculation about a possible opening centers on 88-year-old Justice John Paul Stevens, but any retirement is unlikely before the summer, if then. By contrast, 14 seats are open on appeals courts or will be by the end of... [read full story]