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THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2003

Republican and Democratic appointees on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals are feuding over the court's handling of the affirmative action case now before the Supreme Court.

Judge Alice M. Batchelder, a Bush I appointee, accused Chief Judge Boyce F. Martin Jr., a Carter appointee, of interference. Batchelder said Martin arranged the court so that liberal-leaning judges would hear the case. Her charges came out in a report and other documents released last month.

Now, Judge Damon J. Keith, another Carter appointee, and four Democratic appointees are criticizing Batchelder for her statements. They say the public debate has eroded confidence in the court.

The Supreme Court is reviewing whether the University of Michigan's affirmative action policies violate the U.S. Constitution. The 6th Circuit upheld the law school's admissions program but was unable to come to a decision on the undergraduate program, a split attributed to the judges' infighting.

Get the Story:
Appeals Court's Feud In Mich. Case Grows (The Washington Post 6/12)

Oral Arguments:
MP3: Excerpt | Transcript: Grutter v. Bollinger | Transcript: Gratz v. Bollinger | Real Audio: Both Hearings

Amicus Briefs:
Tribes in Michigan and Wisconsin | U-Mich minority student law associations | New Mexico minority bar associations

Relevant Documents:
Supreme Court Docket Sheet No. 02-241 | Brief: Grutter | Brief: University of Michigan | Brief: Department of Justice

Holdings Below:
Appeals Court: GRUTTER v. BOLLINGER, No. 01-1447, 01-1516 (May 14, 2002) | District Court: GRUTTER v. BOLLINGER (March 27, 2001)

Relevant Links:
University of Michigan, Admissions site - http://www.umich.edu/~urel/admissions
Center for Individual Rights - http://www.cir-usa.org

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