Montana Judge Denies Native American Tribes Better Access To The Polls

Federal Judge Richard Cebull rejected a request by several Native American tribes for satellite polling places on rural Montana reservations. Plaintiffs included members of the Crow, Fort Belknap, and Northern Cheyenne. They argued that traveling to the polls next week will be expensive and burdensome, including the fact some people would have to travel 120 miles to get to the polling stations that had been assigned to them.    

Even the Justice Department assisted with court filings saying, "The practical reality is that Indian voters in Big Horn, Blaine and Rosebud counties do not have the same opportunity as white voters."

But this wasn't good enough for Cebull. He said these realities were not extreme enough to force the government to set up the sites.  

Not that we'd expect better from Cebull, who is stepping down from the bench, because he sent a racist email referring to the president as an animal.  

Read more here. 

Federal Judge Who Sent Racist Obama Email Steps Down

“A little boy said to his mother; ‘Mommy, how come I’m black and you’re white?’ His mother replied, ‘Don’t even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!’”

Richard Cebull of Montana thought this joke was funny. So much so that he forwarded it along and commented that it had "touched his heart."

Unfortunately for Cebull, he happens to be Chief Judge for the state of Montana. He admitted to forwarding the email in February and, after the firestorm, asked the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to review his conduct.

He'll be stepping down and taking fewer cases in 2013. He'll still, however, be able to keep a staff and maintain a salary.

President Obama will be able to appoint Cebull's replacement. SBW hopes he or she will not compare African Americans to dogs. Or any other animals for that matter. More here.