Politics can be awfully petty

Even in the "what's in it for me" world of politics, Sen. Dianne Feinstein's announcement that she would block a judicial appointment to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals seemed pretty darn petty.

Why? Not because she disagrees with 6th District Judge Randy Smith's record. Not because she disagrees with his politics. Not because of where he stands on judicial protocol.

Why then?

She doesn't like where he lives.

Smith happens to have committed the mortal sin of living in Idaho. Feinstein, a Democrat, feels the position should go to someone from California.

Feinstein made her announcement at Smith's nomination hearing Wednesday.

Smith was picked by President Bush in December to replace Judge Stephen Trott, who moved to Idaho from California after his appointment to the court in 1988. Trott declared senior status in December 2004 and, since then, Idaho has not had an active judge on the court.

Feinstein says the seat should go to a California judge because tradition holds that judgeships remain in the same state.

"To allow a judge's personal choice of where to live to change the allocation of future Court of Appeals sets a dangerous precedent," Feinstein told the Judiciary Committee.

However, to allow a politician's "me-oriented" view determine who is named to the bench instead of a nominee's qualifications is even more dangerous.

Caroline Lobsinger is the managing editor of the Daily Bee.