"O'Connor is about the last person I would ask a legal opinion from. She's just an EEO disaster."
No, she isn't sadly. Over 50% of the time (probably in the mid 60s), she was a fine justice.
Of course the fringe left still hates her for Bush vs Gore.
But she has become increasingly worthless on social and cultural issues. The only good recent vote vote in that area I can think of is the 5-4 decision in favor of the Boy Scouts against the radical gay lobby.
And her talk of 'judicial independence' is nonsense, because what she really means is the same thing meant by all who scream it whenever the Court's absurd decisions get the derision and criticism they deserve -- judicial supremacy. If they don't like it, then they should stop making themselves into just another political instrument. And why whine about it anyway? Its not like anyone is actually doing anything about it other than talk. Their supremacy, though never intended, is assured.