You know the last Leo, Leo the 13th, reigned from 1878 to 1903, when he died at the age of 93! Perhaps the gift of longevity was also in Cardinal Prevost's mind when he selected the name Leo. If he were to emulate the lifespan of his most recent namesake predecessor, his rule could last until the year of our Lord, 2049!
It's been said, though, that it is his admiration of the emphasis Pope Leo XIII placed upon the plight of the poor in the midst of the abject poverty that the industrial revolution created. He, having been born in 1810, would certainly have seen the paradigm shift from rural to urban and the failed promise of work with fair compensation. In particular, Pope Leo XIII's encyclical "rerum novarum" which took on the obligation governments had to treat the working class with fairness and the dignity due their labors.
That said, tomorrow (which is already a lot closer in Rome than it is in Washington, DC) the real work begins. Among the first thing to take note of is where he will choose to reside. Famously, Pope Francis eschewed the pomp of the Papal Palace in favor of a more modest abode in the Vatican Guest House. It was a significant gesture in light of the criticisms of the church's excesses. I've also heard commentators place importance on the new Pope's first foreign visit. On this score, I have a MONUMENTAL DREAM.
The fact that he is being called the Pope from the United States (when in fact he holds dual citizenship with Peru) has given President Trump an adversary to conquer. Trump is so ignorant. He has no idea what he's up against, but he can't stand to play second fiddle to anyone! He has the gall to announce that he's looking forward to meeting the new Pope. Like he's gonna go downstairs and say "hey" to the new cook.
So back to my Dream: I would love it if Pope Leo the XIV would announce that his first foreign visit would be to El Salvador. That his mission there would be to visit that fucking notorious prison, and offer a mass to the inmates. Furthermore, he would provide passage for Kilmar Abrego Garcia to return to the United States in his company, and then meet with President Trump and perform his second foreign Mass in Washington, DC. Now, THAT WOULD BE BRILLIANT!
Full Disclosure: I'm a registered Democrat. In my state, you have to be to make a difference in the outcome of any election. I consider myself both a progressive and a liberal; however, I believe in fiscal accountability, and on a local level rail against higher taxes for stupid shit like hiring a Chaplin for our city's Police and Fire departments. I'm sorry. If you need spiritual support, join a church, synagogue or temple. It's not like you could throw a stone and hit one of them around here! My first time out of the box, I voted for Ronald Reagan, and do not regret it. Different times, different issues.
What we have presently in charge is a true Shit Show. The most corrupt President ever calling everyone else corrupt like a child on an elementary school playground. Hell, he doesn't even understand how tariffs work, but he soon will...
INTRODUCTION
Federal Courts are my passion--correction, one--just one--of my passions. Putting Judges into seats across the 94 District, 13 Appellate and 1 Supreme Courts of the Federal System that look like the rest of the United States is a dream coming true under President Biden. What one would have hoped had been true of President Obama's appointments only now is coming to pass with President Biden. It's seems that President Obama was constrained by a fear of "scaring the horses". President Biden, with the gift of mortality staring him squarely in the face, has no problem burning the goddamned barn down.
WHAT IS BROKEN ... EVENTUALLY, NEEDS FIXED
One of my favorite anomalies is a comparison between Maryland and Louisiana. Both states have mid-sized populations sizes: Maryland approximately 6,180,000 (2023) and Louisiana approximately 4,574,000 (2023). However, Maryland's is larger by over 1,500,000 people. You might expect that both states would at the very least have similar sized Federal judiciaries. But they do not.
Maryland is a single District in spite of its geographic challenges (the western mountains, the eastern shore). Louisiana has 3 Districts (only the Mississippi River seems to be a geographic barrier). Maryland has 10 seats. Louisiana as a combined 22 seats. No matter how you cut it, there's no logical or rational reason for the disparity that doesn't land firmly on some degree of historic and racist foundation. In practical terms it means that there is one Federal Judge for every 618,000 Marylanders, compared to one Federal Judge for every 216,091 Louisianans. Are citizens of Louisiana 3 times more likely of committing a Federal Crime?
So the system needs an honest overhaul apart from political influences and racists paradigms. Don't hold your breath.
STATE VS DISTRICT
While the Districts are independent of one another, and hold equal status in interpreting the United States Constitution and setting possible precedent with their rulings, the road to obtaining a seat by an individual nominee runs through each state's Senatorial delegation. It matters who's party each Senator is a member of, and how partisan they are. It's never matter more, given the hyper-partisan state of politics today.
Of the 50 states within the first Congress (2021-2022): 22 were Republican, 6 were split delegations, and 22 were Democratic. During the first two years of the Biden Administration, 4 Judges were agreed to in both Ohio and Pennsylvania (Split States), and 1 Judge was agreed to in a Republican State, Iowa.
In the 2022 elections, the status of one state shifted: Pennsylvania became a fully Democratic delegation. Since then, a range of Judges from Republican States have been been agreed to by their Senators.
Confirmed:
You may know that I am a follower of the machinations of the United States Senate. Often have their live feed on during times of votes and in the evenings when Voice Vote confirmations occur. Fortunately for me, they spend less than half the year in session! Never the less, these elected folks are among the most powerful people in our nation. We ought to know what they are about. And it's fitting to acknowledge the passing into Ancestry.
This got me thinking, how much do most people even understand how the Federal Appeals Courts work? I think not many So lets take on the Sixth Circuit and tear it down to its most basic bones. I will do this by asking and answering a set of simple questions. And were applicable reference the recent case that started this line of reasoning.
What is the Sixth Circuit?
The six Circuit is one of 13 Federal Court clusters that are divided into District and Appellate courts for the purpose of adjudicating conflicts with a bearing on Federal Laws and the United States Constitution. It's decisions are review-able by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Court of Last Resorts. They may be affirmed or struck down by the Supreme Court. District courts are were most cases begin. After a decision is rendered, of the loosing side feels they have just cause to request a review, they appeal the decision to the Appellate Court. Each circuit has many Districts within it's boundaries, but only one Appeals Court.
Is there one Appeals Court house for each Circuit?
No. Appellate Judges have chambers in various courthouses throughout the Circuit, most are part of District Court buildings, however, some Appeals Court judges--usually those who have semi-retired into what is called "Senior" status--set up chambers in spaces more convenient to the physical needs and limitations.
Do all Circuits have the same number of Appellate Judges?
No. The numbers vary widely. The First Circuit Appeals Court has 6 Judges, while the Ninth Circuit has 28! The number depends on historical precedence, case-load, number of subordinate District Courts, etc. The number of judges is set using a formula that takes a range of such factors into consideration.
Each judge occupies a "seat". Seats change both by adding more and taken existing seats away. When a Circuit looses a seat, it only does so after the sitting judge takes Senior Status, Retires, Resigns, or Dies.
How does an Appellate Court Judge get their job?
By Constitutional design, they are nominated by the sitting President, and then Confirmed by a simple majority of the U.S. Senate. They may maintain their seat on the court as long as want to. There is no mandatory retirement age; however, there is a formula for assuming a Senior Status which allows the judge to be fully vetted in the retirement system of the courts and continue to serve part-time while accruing additional retirement benefits.
How is the Appellate Court Governed?
Each court, both Appellate and District have a Chief Judge. They also have various committees and other structures to manage internal decisions and conflict. The position of Chief Judge is not a political choice. Rather, it is determine by a formula that involves the ages of all of the active judges occupying one of the appoint full-time seats. At the time a vacancy happens, the role is offered to the judge within the court who is closest to 65 years of age without going over 65. Judges who are 66 and older are not allowed to hold the position unless there is no one younger who is available or able to hold the position. The term of Chief Justice lasts for seven years, and carries very little actual authority. The seat of the Chief Justice remains in the city of their current seat, so the placement throughout the Circuit of the Chief Judges changes with the Judge.
Applying these ideas to the Sixth Circuit
The Sixth Circuit covers 4 states that are subdivided geographically into 9 Districts. The number of Full Time Seats in the Sixth Circuit Appeals Court is Sixteen. All are presently filled. There are Fourteen Judges working part time in Senior Status; however, one of these judges is presently "inactive". This is a polite way of saying they are "Dianne Feinstein-ing"--biding their time until death makes the decision to leave for them.
Specifically, the states and courthouses are:
MICHIGAN
MICHIGAN
For my money, not knowing crap about the on the ground details, I am inclined to choose bachelor number two. It seems to break up the fewest county-level political entities and so feels the most compact. 
With the defeat of Hershel Walker in Georgia, the freshman class of Senators is now set at seven: five Republicans and two Democrats.
Republican Katie Britt representing Alabama
Republican Ted Budd representing North Carolina
Democrat John Fetterman representing Pennsylvania
Republican Markwayne Mullins representing Oklahoma
Republican Eric Schmitt representing Missouri
Republican J.D. Vance representing Ohio
Democrat Peter Welch representing Vermont
Today a Jury of 12 Cis White Men and Women Decided the fate of the loves and the lives of countless millions of Americans whose relationships fall outside of their own. Once again, we left to be grateful to our oppressors.
