Posted on 01/10/2005 6:13:22 PM PST by wagglebee
WASHINGTON - With the news that Chief Justice Rehnquist will not return to the bench this week because of treatment for thyroid cancer, speculation has intensified that he may step down after President Bush's inauguration. On the list of potential Supreme Court nominees to replace him is Judge Michael McConnell, a jurist with bipartisan appeal who sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
The Kentucky native received the enthusiastic backing of conservative groups as well as some prominent liberal law professors when he was nominated to the appeals bench by the president in 2001. He also earned the votes of several Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee, though they warned they would not necessarily back him for the top court.
"I think he is very much in the running. ... He could be a very appealing consensus candidate," said Sean Rushton, executive director of the Committee for Justice, a group that advocates for the president's nominees.
(Excerpt) Read more at nysun.com ...
Judge Michael McConnell, a jurist with bipartisan appeal...
Read, "a judge who wouldn't touch Roe with a ten foot pole".
I sure hope he rules McCain-Feingold unconstitutional.
If President Bush does not nominate someone who makes the Liberals stand up and scream, I will be very disappointed. Make them go through hell, researching every article, letter, note, e-mail whatever in search of something. Make them spend hundreds of thousands of dollars or even millions to fight a minority Judge, because while in Law School he/she attended a speech in support of overturning Roe V Wade.
Let them make fools of themselves, while we reap the benefit.
Sounds like David Souter Lite.
Mitch is cool. I'd love to have him on the Bench.
He'd make a good replacement for Stevens.
This isn't Mitch.
I'd much prefer Mitch. This guy seems interesting but defidently a wild card.
I agree, I want someone the 'Rats will scream about.
Gerald Ford had no idea what he was doing when he appointed Stevens. Looking at McConnell's record, he very well may be the next Stevens or at least the next Souter. We need somebody who is completely behind the conservative agenda.
I misread. Thanks for the correction.
I smell another Judge Souter.
Or worse yet, another Stevens or Warren!
Years ago when Dingbat Hatch was mentioned as a possible candidate, I recall some concerns that he could not be considered since he had voted for Supreme Court pay raises.Therefore, he was disqualified for consideration. If this is accurate, would that not also apply to McConnell?, Or,is my memory going bad on me?
Wrong McConnell!
That's who came to mind at first for me, too.
McConnell is a Federalist and black marked by PFAW.
Right now it is all speculation and gives the media something to write about on slow news days.
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