Though seven U.S. appeals court nominees weren't competent enough to be accepted by the Senate last year, Bush is parading the same group of rejects for a second try this year. For the environmentally conscious, the first up for consideration is of top concern. William G. Myers III, vying for a bench on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, has already proven himself an enemy of nature.

During Myers' prior work at Bush's Department of the Interior, he weakened the Endangered Species Act, overturned his predecessor's decision against a 1,650-acre cyanide heap-leach gold mine and was investigated for ethics violations. Before joining the Bush gang, he dedicated himself to the interests of the mining, ranching and cattle industries. He never served as a judge in any court.

As one of the country's top judiciary bodies, the 9th Circuit Court has jurisdiction over three-quarters of all federal land and has been the last stop in battles over resource-pillaging. Myers' first nomination won him the label "unqualified" from a third of the rating's committee, but "unqualified" has never discouraged Bush in the past.

» Scott Saxon