Musical chairs for Justice-Designate Roberts
President Bush has withdrawn the nomination of Judge John Roberts to replace Sandra Day O'Connor as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, and nominated Roberts to replace the late William Rehnquist as Chief Justice instead.
Justice O'Connor will continue to serve until a new replacement is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
In a way, it's a shame. Brilliant as Judge Roberts is, a court led by Justice Antonin Scalia might have been the most thoughful and scholarly in history.
Focus now shifts to the President's new nominee for the O'Connor vacancy. This is a chance to affect the Court for decades- a chance like the ones Presidents Nixon and Reagan muffed during their administrations. Hopefully Mr. Bush will be more careful.
Justice O'Connor will continue to serve until a new replacement is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
In a way, it's a shame. Brilliant as Judge Roberts is, a court led by Justice Antonin Scalia might have been the most thoughful and scholarly in history.
Focus now shifts to the President's new nominee for the O'Connor vacancy. This is a chance to affect the Court for decades- a chance like the ones Presidents Nixon and Reagan muffed during their administrations. Hopefully Mr. Bush will be more careful.
Comments