Massachusetts Superior Court nominee and ADL leader Berman's second bite at apple goes nowhere.
UPDATE to earlier story below.
Joseph Berman's nomination to the Massachusetts Superior Court was today rejected formally by the Governor's Council on a 4-4 vote. Previously, council members had stated 5 members would vote against him.
The legal industry lobbied hard on behalf of Berman with more than 100 lawyers, including former Gov. Weld and former DA Harshberger, writing the council on his behalf. Following the vote Gov. Patrick criticised the council for rejecting his nomination, saying Berman was the right person for the job because of his ethics and honesty. Councilors who voted'no' took exception to the Governor's statement saying Berman had not been honest.
Given Berman's leadership postion in the ADL and tht organizatioin's promotion of the sexist Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) law the vote is a win for men and fathers. Fatherhood Coalition leadership had urged the council to reject Berman's nomination at the public hearing on Feb. 26.
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The Anti-Defamation League supports the sexist and discriminatory anti-male 'Violence Against Women Act' (VAWA).
Gov. Patrick announced on Wed., Feb 12, that he was submitting Joseph Berman for reconsideration to the Governor Council which rejected him 5-3 the first time around.
The public hearing will take place Feb. 26, 1 PM, at the State House, Rm. 222.
The ADL's postion on VAWA:
Violence Against Women Act(VAWA)
"In 2012, for the first time since its passage in 1994, Congress failed to reauthorize VAWA, which protects survivors of domestic violence and provides for prosecution of their abusers. ADL urged Congress to reauthorize VAWA, which it did in early 2013."
http://www.adl.org/assets/pdf/civil-rights/adl-civil-rights-overview-201...
and a full ADL letter urging Congress to fund VAWA is here:
http://www.adl.org/assets/pdf/civil-rights/discrimination/ADL-Letter-to-...
Given the hysterical reaction from the legal industry over Berman's rejection and the intense media lobbying, including an open letter from more than 100 lawyers and high profile political figures such as former Gov. William Weld (no friend fo fathers), calling for Berman to be appointed, Governor Patrick likely beleived it was an easy call to resubmit Berman's name if only to mollify powerful friends in high ;places.
The Governor Council made the right decision in rejecting Joseph Berman. Contact your Governor's Councilor and urge them to do so again.