Nader condemns Pa. Supreme Court hopeful

Nader and Camejo wrote that they believe Colins does not possess the legal acumen and judgment needed to fill a seat as a justice of the commonwealth’s Supreme Court, according to the letter.

Colins presided over a challenge the candidates submitted in 2004 when the running mates were not allowed to run for president in Pennsylvania.

Colins falsely accused Nader and Camejo of seeking a spot on the Pennsylvania ballot by fraud, the letter states.

Colins recently announced his interest in filling a vacant seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court left open by retired Chief Justice Ralph Cappy.

Rendell will consider all opinions when he chooses who he feels should fill the empty Supreme Court seat, said Chuck Ardo, the governor’s press secretary.

“While we certainly understand that Mr. Nader feels he has reason for his personal vendetta against Judge Colins, the Governor will consider Mr. Nader’s opinion along with that of many, many others and make his decision on the basis of qualification and the ability to be confirmed,” Ardo said.

Colins said he believes Nader is personally attacking him because he made a decision in court that was not in Nader’s favor.

Nader hired a private contractor to get signatures on a ballot to allow him to run for president and ended up paying people per line for the signatures, Colins said.

“The letter is shear fiction. His credibility is just about zero,” Colins said. “Donald Duck signed that petition. Mickey Mouse signed that petition and I believe there were 130-plus signatures from a shelter that had 12 beds.”

To give Nader his due process in 2004, Colins, with help from almost every other Commonwealth Court Judge, reviewed more than 51,000 of Nader’s petition signatures, Colins said. Some Commonwealth Court Judges worked long hours, seven-days-a-week, to review the signatures, he said. It turned out to be a waste of taxpayer money, which is why the court assessed Nader the court costs and attorney fees, Colins said.

“(Nader) is someone who has lost in court. He is not happy with the court’s decision so he has personally attacked the judge that made that decision,” Colins said. “He has chosen to personalize this with me but this goes with being a judge. This is sour grapes from Mr. Nader. He is trying to get even with me for whatever reason. I learned long ago that you can’t have everyone leave the courtroom happy.”