Political Insider

By Debbie

September 14, 2006 4:12 PM | Link to this

I am very disappointed in Mike Bowers supporting a liberal activist judge.Maybe Bowers is showing his true leanings…

Wiggins is well liked by GOP conservative party activists. He has been speaking at different GOP events.

http://www.mikewiggins.com/

By Michael

September 14, 2006 7:17 PM | Link to this

“Liberal!” “Activist!” — Bully boy catchwords bereft of truth and substance. So when Rehnquist said medical marijuana was okay (in 2005), did that make him Liberal or Activist?

By Debbie

September 14, 2006 7:30 PM | Link to this

It made him neither.
Roy Barnes and the trial lawyers support Hunstein, that does not make her conservative.

I believe the State Appellate and Supreme Courts should run in primaries just like all other statewide offices.

By joe

September 14, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this

Liberal?? Activist?? I would bet that those that have put this nonsensical title on Justice Hunstein have never read one of her opinions. Judges are not called on to be liberal or conservative. That is why we have “non-partisan” elections in Georgia. Admittedly, Mr. Wiggins does not understand this, as he has made it painfully obvious that he running as a conservative Republican, and he claims Justice Hunstein is the Democrat. She, on the other hand, has made it painfully obvious that she is neither. Would Mike Bowers, Zell Miller, Oscar Persons (former general counsel to the Georgia Republican Party) put their good name on the line on an “liberal activist” judge?? We have to wonder what the motivations are behind these folks that would politicize these judicial races. I hope Georgia voters have more sense than to fall for the rhetoric of these mouthpieces!!

By GC

September 14, 2006 11:04 PM | Link to this

Is this the same Michael Bowers who was State Attorney General and dropped out the race for Governor because of revelations about a longstanding sexual relationship he had with a lady who worked for him? Perdue made this guy head of the Judicial Nominating Commission? I thought the Republican party stood for family values. Hypocrites!!!

By Bob

September 15, 2006 9:58 AM | Link to this

I know judge Hunstein has been a Superior Court Judge in GA for 20 years. Where is Mr. Wiggins from and why is he running against her when she has been unchallenged for 20 years?

By debbie

September 15, 2006 11:51 AM | Link to this

http://www.mikewiggins.com/

Bob, just because someone has held an elective postion for twenty years does not mean they are “entitled” to that position.

The fact the trial lawyers and Roy Barnes support her is enough for me.

Wiggins has worked in the Bush Justice Department.

By Danny

September 15, 2006 2:48 PM | Link to this

Wiggins has almost no experience in the courtroom, as a judge or even an attorney. He’s been cozied up in Washington, sitting at a desk for the past five years. Now he wants to make decisions from the highest court in the state? I say no thanks, I’d rather have a real Georgian for a judge.

By Debbie

September 15, 2006 3:18 PM | Link to this

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice had no prior experience as a Judge before being appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals. He then became Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

The bottom line is if you look at who is supporting each candidate that will tell you what is at stake.

Wiggins has business and chamber of commerce support. Hunstein has the support of Roy Barnes and the Trial Lawyers. That should be a no brainer for conservatives to know athey don’t want to side with Barnes and Trial Lawyers. I know Bowers is supporting Hunstein as well. I heard the Georgia Bar is going to honor him. Maybe a deal was cut….

From Wiggins web site: Mike Wiggins served in the Bush Administration from 2001 to 2006. Beginning in 2001, Mike held several prominent positions in the Department of Justice, most recently serving as Deputy Associate Attorney General. His responsibilities as Deputy Associate Attorney General included overseeing the civil division, the civil rights division, civil terrorism related litigation, criminal matters handled by the civil divisions of the Department and representing the Associate Attorney General on the Department’s Health Care Fraud Task Force.

Prior to his appointment to the Office of the Associate Attorney General, Mike served as Acting Assistant Attorney General and Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division. The Civil Rights Division is responsible for enforcing the nation’s federal civil rights statutes, including those statutes that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability, religion, and national origin in education, employment, credit, housing, public accommodations and facilities, voting, and certain federally funded and conducted programs. The Assistant Attorney General and Principal Deputy are responsible for the supervision of all activities of the Civil Rights Division (over 700 employees including 356 attorneys) and serve as counselors to the Attorney General.

In 2005, Mike was named Principal Deputy General Counsel for the Department of Homeland Security. As the second-ranking legal officer for the more than 1,400 lawyer general counsel’s office in an agency of approximately 185,000 people, his responsibilities included advising the Secretary and other senior leadership on legal issues arising throughout DHS, including those relating to immigration, customs enforcement, international agreements, CFIUS reviews, complex civil litigation, transportation security, labor and employment, public health, incident management, government contracts, infrastructure protection and intelligence sharing. His responsibilities also included working closely with the White House and the Departments of Justice, State, Treasury, and Defense to coordinate counterterrorism and federal law enforcement initiatives.

Prior to joining the Justice Department, Mike practiced law with Kilpatrick Stockton LLP in Atlanta, Georgia. His litigation practice included matters involving first amendment, separation of powers and other constitutional claims, telecommunications, intellectual property, and employment discrimination law.

Mike graduated first in his class from the University of Georgia School of Law where he served as Executive Articles Editor for the Georgia Law Review. He served as a summer clerk for the Honorable B. Avant Edenfield, United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, and upon graduation from law school served as a law clerk for the Honorable J. L. Edmondson, Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Before beginning his legal career, Mike practiced as a Certified Public Accountant with an international public accounting firm. Mike is married to Erika Birg, a partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP.

By Captain Freedom

September 15, 2006 5:20 PM | Link to this

Greetings Debbie,

Thank you for the detailed report on Mr Wiggins impeccable credentials. It is good to know that there is an acceptable White Male Christian candidate for this position.

And kudos to you, too, Debbie. I know it must have been tough finding another job after your position with the Ralph Reed campaign fell through. While I still suggest that a not-man such as yourself would better serve God’s plan by continual breeding and child-rearing, at least your heart is in the right place.

By Captain Freedom

September 15, 2006 5:26 PM | Link to this

Just wondering…during Mr Wiggins’ tenure with the Dept. Of Homeland Security, did he ever have the opportunity to write any legal opinions that support Our Leader’s effort to allow non-torture whenver we need to beat some information out of an evildoer? Certainly such an opinion would truly be a feather in his cap.

I myself am a big supporter of the non-torture terchnique of waterboarding. Could you find out his position on that, please?

By MD

September 15, 2006 5:47 PM | Link to this

Justice Hunstein has an impeccable reputation as a jurist; she is fair, impartial, and consistently rules based on the law. It is disturbing that someone so ill qualified is running for our State’s highest court. I encourage everyone to research Presiding Justice Hunstein’s record. We need to send a message on November 7th that we dont want big businesses purchasing judicial elections. At least one branch of government needs to remain independent and non-partisan.

[http://www.hunsteinforjustice.com]

By MD

September 15, 2006 5:49 PM | Link to this

Link:Justice Hunstein

By OB

September 16, 2006 4:19 AM | Link to this

By OB,(Italic and Link) First, a minor correction to Bob. Justice Hustein is “NOT” a Superior Court Judge at the present time,and she was first elected a Dekalb County Superior Judge in 1984. This was an open seat created when the sitting Judge resigned to run for the Court of Appeals!

Now to MS Debbie: Your “Disertation” on Mike Wiggins was long on words, if not deeds! I must confess, however, having served in the Bush DOJ does not automatically elevate one to the level of being awarded the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval! Further, If you in anyway was somehow involved in The Ralph Reed “Meltdown” I would strongly advise you to take some time off. You need to engage yourself in an extended period of introspection and self renewal. In the history of Georgia Politcs this had to have been one for the ages! I am asuming that you are not old enough remember the Herman Talmadge “Take Over” of the Govenor’s Office, which would be in the same class. If you, somehow, feel that this “QT” I have suggested is unwarranted, then simply avoid all mirrors and honest friends!

By Adolph Hitler

September 17, 2006 4:02 PM | Link to this

I support Herr Wiggins. He will bring back my legacy. HEIL.

By Mary

September 17, 2006 8:06 PM | Link to this

Let’s face it: Judge Hunstein is a woman with a jewish sounding name. In some circles this automatically makes her a liberal, even though it is patently not true. Truth in the new GOP is less important than belief. Ronald Reagan’s son and Barry Goldwater’s children will attest to that. The facts about Hunstein are that she is a cancer survivor, raised her children on her own, started poor and worked her way up - in short, the American dream made real. She cannot be bought. Since the National Chamber of Commerce apparently has decided to buy judges across the country, they need someone who will obey. And they are betting that running negative, deceptive ads will ensure their victory.

By Doris R. Hunstein

September 27, 2006 2:59 PM | Link to this

Carol Hunstein is the Mother of my Grandchildren. I want you to know we think the world of her. By the way, the name HUNSTEIN is German not Jewish as someone suggested. As a Mother-in-law, she and I always had a great relationship, and we still do. I would vote for her in a minute if I lived in Georgia. I live in Florida