"This is obviously an exceedingly liberal panel of an exceedingly liberal court," said Charles P. Diamond, a lawyer for some of the proponents.

Still, Mr. Beldock, for decades a fixture in liberal court causes, left little doubt about his implications.

Professor Herman Schwartz, a constitutional scholar at American University Law School, said the conservative anxiety about a liberal court was misplaced.

For years, the Fourth Circuit, which was at the heart of the civil rights battle, was considered a fairly liberal court.

Known to some as the Notorious Ninth, it is the largest and one of the most liberal federal courts, with a reputation for having a higher reversal rate than any other.

She was renowned for her intelligence and strong character, and her uncensored and liberal court attracted a great many scholars, including philosopher Gottfried Leibniz.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer noted that he supported Bybee's confirmation specifically because the judge's conservative views would help to moderate "the most liberal court in the country."

(note to former Europeans: a liberal court) Paul waffles.

Another liberal court, the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, is also weighing the law.

It was an illegal act which a liberal court of the time allowed to stand.