"Memogate"

If, like me, you thought that Joby Fortson's memo on Texas redistricting was a low point of partisan hanky panky, brace yourself for the newly released Democratic memos on judicial appointments, care of OpinionJournal:

Nov. 7, 2001/To: Senator Durbin
'The groups [...] also identified Miguel Estrada (D.C. Circuit) as especially dangerous, because he has a minimal paper trail, he is Latino, and the White House seems to be grooming him for a Supreme Court appointment. They want to hold Estrada off as long as possible.'

April 17, 2002/To: Senator [Ted Kennedy]
'Elaine Jones of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund tried to call you today. . . . Elaine would like the committee to hold off on any 6th Circuit nominees until the University of Michigan case regarding the constitutionality of affirmative action is decided by the 6th Circuit. . . . The thinking is that the current 6th Circuit will sustain the affirmative action program, but if a new judge with conservative views is confirmed before the case is decided, that new judge will be able, under 6th Circuit rules, to review the case and vote on it.'"