Per Blogger Ann Althouse reporter Pete Williams says that the US Solicitor General, Elena Kagan, will be nominated for a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States. She would replace retiring Justice John Paul Stevens.
As best I can tell she has been doing a good job as Solicitor General. In addition, several folks on the left side of the Blog-o-sphere have opposed her for being a little too tough on terrorism and other criminals. While I still wish to close Gitmo, I do take this as a recommendation.
The fact that she is not a judge from the First Circuit and has never served as a judge means that we will be breaking a pattern in appointments that is not only monotonous, but also lacking in diversity. This nation is a lot bigger than the First Circuit.
She was the Dean of Harvard Law School, but managed not to get involved in things like student EMails, which her replacement, Ms Martha Minow, has not been able to avoid.
Given what we know, and given that it is an election year, Ms Kagan looks to be an ideal candidate. The Democrats will manage to support her and the Republicans, after some strong quizzing, will be able to let her nomination move ahead. At least that is my hope for the way it works out.
UPDATE: As someone politely pointed out, I had minnows on the brain and thus switched Ms Minow for Ms Kagan, since corrected. And, since I was back here, I slipped another comma into one of the sentences.
Regards — Cliff
Given all the possibilities and permutations......Kagan is probably an excellent choice.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Volokh Conspiracy.
ReplyDeleteRegards — Cliff
PS: With regard to who is a Liberal, I am a Liberal, just like Maggie Thatcher and John Major. Just ask any Frenchman. Remember, "fifty million Frenchmen can't be wrong".