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Unless President Bush is planning on appointing someone like Estrada as an associate justice, then trying to get the Senate to confirm him as chief justice-I'm not sure if there is an historical precedent for this-I don't see what other choice he has.

If I understand you correctly, that would require two confirmation hearings for Estrada. W can simply appoint anyone as CJ, and another for an associate. Salmon P. Chase was appointed directly to CJ despite never having served on the court, as was Roger B. Taney, ex-President William Howard Taft and several others.

Personally, I think that the most important issue right now is finding a suitable replacement for Justice Rehnquist, should-God forbid-he be unable to fulfill his juridical obligations in the months ahead.

Amen. I pray for the Chief Justice, and for his family.

I wasn't aware of that fact.

Thanks for the information.

I'm also eager to learn how many other members of the SCOTUS are going to retire, due to old age.

It's astounding that we have an institution with virtually no term limits-not even the saving grace of routine elections to that particular office-and almost no ingrained mechanisms to restrain its authority.

I'm reminded of Thurgood Marshall, who was able to stagger on for years, to the point of attending sessions while using a colostomy bag and being-to all intents and purposes-completely senile.

It boggles the mind.