More than 1,100 law professors signed a petition in opposition to the nomination of Alabama Senator Jefferson Beauregard Sessions as Attorney General.
“The letter, signed by professors from 170 law schools in 48 states, is also scheduled to run as a full-page newspaper ad aimed at members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will be holding confirmation hearings for Sessions on Jan. 10-11.
“We are convinced that Jeff Sessions will not fairly enforce our nation’s laws and promote justice and equality in the United States,” states the letter, signed by prominent legal scholars including Laurence H. Tribe of Harvard Law School, Geoffrey R. Stone of the University of Chicago Law School, Pamela S. Karlan of Stanford Law School and Erwin Chemerinsky of the University of California at Irvine School of Law.”
We are in a strange new era in our country’s history, when the people leading the federal government are manifestly unfit for their positions. All the way to the top.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Now let’s see how our legislators deal with the legal opinion of top legal professionals.
Pundits on MSNBC a bit ago agreed that of the 8 appointees, probably only one would be challenged. They agreed it would be either Tillerson or Sessions…but, they also agreed that that Senators would probably not slam one of their own…which means in their opinions, that it will be Tillerson who they take down.
But they are just one set of talking heads.
“Pundits on MSNBC a bit ago agreed. . . ”
Complete the sentence however you want and you will still end up with pundits puking out poppycock.
I wonder if we could get top educational professionals to issue the same sort of statement. At least let’s make it clear if the opinion of educators is held in contempt by our “leaders.”
Come to think of it, it really is time for the various stakeholders to make very clear how they rate the fitness of Trump’s proposed advisors to serve this country in their proposed roles. We don’t need to wait and see what people, who have demonstrated their utter inability to fulfill their proposed roles through their past actions, will do. Can you imagine the same scenario in private life? “Let’s just hired this guy who has no expertise in this area and is actively antagonistic to our goals to lead this division of the company.” Give me a break!
Damn, Trump’ll just bump him up to the Supreme Court now …
You are probably correct, Jon. But again, the Dems should be unbending in refusing to anoint Sessions for SCOTUS. Hope Dems learned something about intransigence from Mitch McConnell, and hoist them on their own petard…blocking everything Trump… and Ryan… demand
1,100: Does my heart good.
Tribe and Chemerisky, Stone and Karlan…what a powerhouse. Resistance is the only option.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_15_warnings_signs_of_impending_tyranny_20170103
Physicists and Astronomers signing an open letter about dressing Climate Change. More information here.
Link to letter and instructions to sign: http://people.usm.maine.edu/pauln/climate/the-letter.html
“climate change is an economic and existential threat to our country and to human and animal life on our planet. If we do not replace fossil fuel dependence with more sustainable choices, warming will continue and we will face increased risks of severe and irreversible impacts, at home and abroad. ”
There is another from Physicians.
View at Medium.com
“In this new and uncertain time in American history, we healthcare professionals feel a special responsibility. We strive to keep our clinical judgment unclouded by our political persuasions, yet we cannot help but see the manifestations of our society’s ills in our everyday practice. For our patients, poverty, violence, and marginalization are not mere abstractions but instead harsh realities. As a result, we feel compelled to act and advocate against any threat to our patients’ well-being.”
Thanks for the links, Sarah. Over 6000 medical practitioners have signed their letter.
It’s all well and good that these law professors write openly against Sessions, but the Repubs won’t care and probably some Dems will vote to confirm as well. The real issue I think is what the career Justice Dept. attorneys, civil servants will do when called upon to defend the indefensible and the unconstitutional. Will they stand up and walk out, or will they cave to protect their jobs. In 1973 there were more heros than Borks in our government and our nation was saved. Today I’m not so sure.
The support of practitioners outside of government is very important. How can we expect those who are most likely to lose jobs/professional reputation to stand up for what is right if we are not willing to do so as well? If we are sheeples, then we deserve to be treated as sheeples.
Have I missed something? Are you saying that the last 2 Attorney Generals have enforced the laws? Cover ups, redacted info on the Brian Terry case, voter intimidation by the Black Panthers and secret meetings on the tarmack with Bill Clinton are not glowing examples of an ethical and unpolitical AG.
Give Sessons a chance—can’t be much worse. Just because a bunch of liberal law schools are against him does not mean he cannot do the job.
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions? The Republican Senate rejected him years ago because of his racism. He called a black lawyer “boy,” among other things.
The meeting on the tarmac with Bill Vlinton was no secret. It was reported as soon as it happened. Did it stop Comey from interfering in the election and hurting Hillary? No.
Loretta Lynch has been a highly ethical Attorney General. So was Holder. What did they do the Black Panthers? Are you a Trump troll? Trump is an unhinged, unqualified nut.
Guess what? Mexico is not paying for the Wall. Trump lied. Again. Do you care?