PA1: Nomination of Wulfric for Chief Judicial Officer

[Simfan34]

Governor Bessell has nominated Wulfric to serve as Chief Judicial Officer. 48 hours will now be allotted for questioning.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

1.Can the Nominee please explain is Yes votes on

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and could the nominee explain why he feels it is constitutional (their has been a great deal of controversy surrounding it)?

[Türkisblau]

It is imperative for the council to vote down this inexperienced and detached fool!

[Mike Thick]

It is imperative for the council to vote down this inexperienced and detached fool!

Wulfric is a very smart guy who knows a lot about the issues facing America and Atlasia today. He's just about as qualified as anyone to fill the position, having served on the Council for several months during a period when the Pacific had very few elected officeholders. I believe he is the best person to serve us as CJO, and is certainly no fool.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

1.Can the Nominee please explain is Yes votes on

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and could the nominee explain why he feels it is constitutional (their has been a great deal of controversy surrounding it)?

From a legislative standpoint - As most here know, I am very pro-life and anti-"war on christmas"/"hide your religion in the public sphere"/whatever PC name you want to call it. As for the whole "conception until death" thing - I obviously support select exceptions to an abortion prohibition (rape, incest, life of the mother), but didn't see it as necessary to mention that in a pledge, which most will just sort of say casually and not really think about the internal meanings of.

As far as why I believe it is constitutional:

regarding Abortion - I don't see the constitution as taking a strict position on abortion - Article IV (3) mentions "citizens", and fetuses aren't considered citizens, so the whole "life, liberty..." doesn't force regions to ban it. And before anyone screams "equal protection" (of ability to make choices about your own body)(as an argument for it mandating permitting abortion), I just don't see it that way. You made the choice already when you had sex, and I already mentioned I support a rape exception. You don't get a "reset" from me.

regarding Religion - A motto/pledge is just a "slogan of sorts" that is said from time to time. It doesn't dictate law or policy. So even if we assume "In God we trust" is referring to the christian god and not just some unnamed god, it's not as if the state is actually saying "you must follow x
religion". And it doesn't even mention Christian/Muslim/Hindu/whatever in there anyways.

[Kingpoleon]

I intend to declare my support for the nominee and advise the Council to vote for him.


However, Wulfric, the pledge specifically defined citizenship as beginning at conception. If the Constitution does not, this is most definitely unconstitutional, yes?

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

However, Wulfric, the pledge specifically defined citizenship as beginning at conception. If the Constitution does not, this is most definitely unconstitutional, yes?

It would be if it literally took classes of Atlasian Citizens and said "you can never be pacific citizens!". However, this simply adds some new citizens on top of those citizens that already exist, which the constitution does not seem to prohibit.

However, should I receive a challenge related to this law while serving on the court, I will certainly consider the merits of the plaintiff argument, and am not necessarily bound to rule a law is constitutional just because I voted for it as a legislator. I will no doubt be a conservative justice on social issues, but that does not mean I will ignore what the constitution clearly says.

[Simfan34]

If there are no more questions for the nominee, I will accept motions to vote on the nomination at hand.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

I motion we end questions for this hearing and go to a final vote

[Simfan34]

That is in order. We will now enter voting procedure.  Members have 24 hours to cast their ballots.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Aye!

[Simfan34]

AYE

[Mike Thick]

Woot! Having all positions filled in a region as screwy as this is quite the accomplishment! Let's all give each other digital pats on the back, take five, and get to work on the budget crisis!

[rpryor03]

AYE

[Simfan34]

Wulfric is hereby, for the record, declared to have been confirmed. Congratulations.

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Congrats Wulfric