Tag Archives: roberts

On Miers

Posted on by

On Harriet Miers: Bleah.

I’m underwhelmed. I like superstar picks, particularly federal appellate judges (despite some calls for diversity). There’s nothing to say she’ll be an awful justice, but there’s nothing to say she’ll be a great one, either.

What are her views on the Constitution? Who knows? All I’ve read is that she’s pro-life.

And with Katrina and Brownie, is this really the time for Bush to name a crony? (That word is going to get tired really soon, but it’ll do for now.) Burton and Minton, Truman’s pals, were totally forgettable. Harriet Miers was the best he could do? It’s not the case that anyone would have paled in comparison to Roberts. There were a number of good choices out there.

Harry Reid apparently mentioned to Bush recently that she’d be an acceptable choice. So I’m guessing she’ll get confirmed. Even if she turns out not to be an intellectual powerhouse, she’ll have three or four clerks helping her out.

Anyway: bleah.

Poor Justice Breyer II

Posted on by

Poor Justice Breyer can’t get a break. His eleven years of having to answer the door, which seemed to be coming to an end, will instead continue even after Roberts is confirmed to the Court. As How Appealing notes, Breyer will continue to be the most junior justice after Roberts becomes Chief, because the Chief Justice is, by definition, the most senior member of the Court. Breyer will have to wait until O’Connor’s replacement gets confirmed – whoever she turns out to be.

(Heh. I said she.)