Not too Jewey

Just in case any of you were worried that the Bush appointee Judge Michael Mukasey was too Jewey (read, Jewishly identified,clanish or impartial) to be a fair Judge, or would be a non critical “yes man” for President W, or anyone, there is good news. from Ron Kampeas of the JTA.

…Those who know the retired federal judge say Mukasey, an Orthodox Jew, is a political conservative who kept his politics and religion out of the courtroom.

That’s in marked contrast to his predecessor, the scandal-plagued Alberto Gonzales, who resigned this month despite Bush’s best efforts to retain him. Gonzales’ tenure was marked by his loyalty to Bush and oft-repeated only-in-America story as the child of Mexican immigrants.

As a judge, Mukasey broke with the White House on a key anti-terrorism issue by ruling that a suspect must have access to a lawyer. And unlike some other judges, he has abjured involvement in Jewish advocacy.

“Some judges have improperly remained active in Jewish organizational life while they were on the bench,” said Marc Stern, counsel to the American Jewish Congress. “It’s a testament to his probity that he was not among them.”

That does not mean his Judaism is not deeply felt….