Professor Florey Comments on Ninth Circuit Appointments for Daily Journal

Professor Katherine Florey commented for the Daily Journal on the potential impact Obama administration appointees might make on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.  With numerous appointments pending, concerns have been expressed that the Court might soon have 20 judges placed by Democrats and only nine Republican appointees, deepening political divisions, but Professor Florey said she expected the president to make moderate picks.

"I expect any change to be in the direction of moving the Ninth Circuit into more of a centrist court and less of a polarized one," said Florey, who clerked for Circuit Judge William A. Fletcher.  "There is a growing centrist bloc, one that I expect will grow" with further Obama appointments. "That might translate into fewer controversial decisions by 2-1 panels or narrow en banc majorities."

Katherine Florey is a Professor of Law at UC Davis School of Law whose scholarship focuses on federal courts, choice of law, and civil procedure.