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Reject Obama’s Federal Judge Pick Dax Lopez

by Phil Kent | Aug 4, 2015

President Barack Obama’s nomination of DeKalb County State Court Judge Dax Lopez to be a federal district court judge — subject to confirmation by the U.S. Senate– is causing a stir in Republican and conservative circles. On last Sunday’s Fox5Atlanta “Georgia Gang” broadcast, for example, host Dick Williams asserted that Lopez’s board membership on the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO) “and its extreme positions on open borders is problematic and has to be answered.”

It is laughable that Lopez is being packaged as somehow being a “Republican,” as evidenced by the headline over a fawning August 3 Daily Report article: “As a Latino Republican, Federal Judge Nominee has Bipartisan Connections.” It’s time for a reality check. Just consider the radical positions of the illegal alien lobby group that Lopez has presided over since 2004 (positions opposed by most Republicans in Georgia, by the way). Note that, according to its website, GALEO:

* Supports amnesty for illegal aliens.
* Lobbied against Georgia sheriffs’ cooperation with federal immigration control officials and even commended the Fulton County sheriff for not cooperating with Immigration and Control Enforcement officials.
* Fought the state voter identification law.
* Denounces the state’s official English-in-government law.
* Supports in-state tuition for illegal aliens.
* Opposed passage of the 2011 Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act (which passed both houses of the General Assembly by large majorities).

This writer spoke with Lopez at a reception during his judgeship campaign in 2012. He was unapologetic for the group opposing the 2011 immigration control act. That was the same year that GALEO joined with the American Civil Liberties Union and other left-wing groups in a class action lawsuit to overturn the law. (How many taxpayer dollars did Lopez’s organization cost the state’s taxpayers in defending that law?)

When asked why he was a board member of an advocacy/lobbying group, he told me it was because he believed in its mission. That begs the question: Should any serving judge be a board member of an advocacy/lobbying group? Also, can Lopez be an “impartial” federal judge at a time when his benefactor Obama has been bypassing Congress with unconstitutional executive actions granting amnesty and “deferred status” to illegal immigrants?

Remember, too, that Lopez had a big patron during his 2012 election campaign. It was none other than last year’s failed Democratic gubernatorial nominee and son of former President Jimmy Carter. In a July 27, 2012 Tweet, Lopez said: “I cannot begin to thank my good friend and fellow DeKalb public servant Sen. Jason Carter for hosting a meet and greet for me at the home of his parents. I am humbled to have his support and endorsement.” Lopez was also endorsed in his campaign by former Democrat Gov. Roy Barnes and the homosexual lobby Georgia Equality.

Yes, Lopez was originally appointed to his DeKalb judgeship by GOP Gov. Sonny Perdue as part of a public relations-type “outreach to Hispanics.” But waving a magic wand and sprinkling pachyderm powder over Lopez didn’t automatically make him a “Republican,” no matter how many times dishonest media types make the claim.

Marietta attorney Robert Ingram, a member of U.S. Sen Johnny Isakson’s judicial nominating committee, babbled to the Daily Report that “both the committee and Senator Isakson enthusiastically support him.” However, that’s not what Isakson or his office say. They aren’t saying anything, for now. Georgia’s other U.S. senator, David Perdue, has not made up his mind as to whether he will confirm this Obama pick.

Lopez will undergo thorough questioning about his judicial philosophy when he comes before the U.S. Senate. And if Republicans in the GOP-controlled Senate are true to their word, and they oppose activist judges who support Obama’s unconstitutional overreaches, they will ultimately reject this presidential acolyte.

Phil Kent is the CEO of InsiderAdvantage and is also Gov. Nathan Deal’s appointee to the state Immigration Enforcement and Review Board.