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Judicial matters: Wonder when we’re going to get some local comment on a very recent decision handed down from the Ninth Appellate.

The ruling came in Lands Council v McNair where the justices, sitting en banc, unanimously ruled to limit judicial oversight in forest remediation projects. The decision also grants federal wilderness managers much more leeway in implementing such projects.

Naturally, the so-called environmentalists will appeal this decision, but allow me to point out a judicial fact.

In the history of the Ninth Circuit, it has never heard — much less overturned — an appeal to one of its own unanimous en-banc (all of the justices sitting) decision.

Blogger’s Comments – It is about dammed time a court recognized that the Sierra Club has been suing for years advocating a hand’s off forest policy whose disastrous results were borne out in this years’ unbelievable wildfire season.

Hat tip to Jim Ruffalo – oh, and he actually provided some balance to the AJ’s pimping for Jennifer Montgomery – writing: Burning questions: And while we’re on the subject of elected offices, allow me to request that one and all keep an eye out for Jennifer Montgomery, the other candidate for the District 5 Supervisorial seat.

For weeks now, she’s been promising me a sit-down interview session, but even when we’re in the same room — as was the case a few weeks ago at Meddlers — she somehow disappears when the pen and notebook appear.

Even her top handler, Rob Haswell, as been working hard to get us together.

But being the political junkie that I am, I fully understand the rigors of waging political warfare. Even in the best of times, one loses all track of time.

I’m sure she’s not ducking me and remain just as convinced that she really wants to answer the hard questions. For example, I’d love to query her as to where she really stands on the question of opening burning.

Does she want to ban any open flame in the foothills, as she told the League of Women Voters, or is she foresquare for a property owner’s right to torch trash and slash, as she was quoted in the Aug. 19 Sierra Sun?

Such confusion can easily be sorted out by means of a quick interview, and I’m sure she’ll get back to me. Probably no later than that crucial first week of December. ...

Blogger’s Note – Jennifer Montgomery is vigorously supported by the Sierra Club.