A Former Federal Judge Fears For Democracy

前联邦法官担心民主

Fresh Air

艺术

2024-07-04

45 分钟
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David Tatel is a former civil rights lawyer who spent 30 years as a judge on the D.C. Circuit, the nation's second highest court. He retired earlier this year. As an appellate judge, he was required to follow Supreme Court precedents, but what about precedents that resulted from what he considers flawed judicial reasoning? We talk with Tatel about being a judge during a time he thought the Supreme Court veered off course — and being a judge who is blind. His new book is called Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
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  • After working as a civil rights lawyer, my guest David Tatl said served as a judge on the US Court of Appeals for the DC circuit, the nation's second highest court of appeals with only the Supreme Court above it.

  • In his new memoir, he writes that he became tired of having his work reviewed by a Supreme Court that didn't seem to share the principles he'd dedicated his life to.

  • This week's decision about presidential immunity is an example of why he's lost faith in the court.

  • He's seen the court overturn cases he worked on as a lawyer and as a judge, including voting rights.

  • Last week, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron decision, a decision that said courts have to show deference to agency experts when those experts interpret the laws they enforce.

  • This was a disturbing decision for Tatel because the DC circuit, on which he served rules on cases related to federal agencies and many rulings now risk being overturned.

  • Tetto was appointed to the DC circuit to fill the vacancy when President Clinton nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court.

  • Tatel retired from the DC circuit earlier this year.

  • For half of his life, Tatel has been blind as a result of the progressive eye disease, retinitis pigmentosa.

  • For years, he kept that hidden from colleagues and the public, coming up with techniques and excuses to cover up.

  • Finally, he decided he needed a white cane.

  • He was in his seventies when he was persuaded to get a guide dog.

  • He was surprised by how smart and helpful his dog, Vixen, proved to be and by how much he loves her.