Wall Street Journal Columist,Taranto: The Case for Choosing Viet Dinh as SOCTUS Justice

Wall Street Journal, Best of the Web ^ | 9/9/2005 | James Taranto

[SirLinksalot]

Friday, September 9, 2005 4:45 p.m.

Justice Dinh

Now that President Bush has announced that Judge John Roberts will replace Chief Justice William Rehnquist, he must appoint a replacement for Roberts as a replacement for Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. As Manuel Miranda noted yesterday, the common assumption has been that he will choose either a woman or a member of an ethnic minority, especially a Hispanic. We'd like to suggest a candidate who fits the "minority" requirement, although he isn't a Hispanic: Viet Dinh.

Dinh is a professor at Georgetown Law School and served for two years as an assistant attorney general. His academic specialties, according to his Justice Department bio, cover a broad range: constitutional law, corporation law, and the law and economics of development. The Georgetown press release announcing his return to academia in 2003 notes his governmental accomplishments:

Dinh led the Justice Department's Office of Legal Policy since May 31, 2001, and in that time, he contributed to a number of key Administration policy initiatives most notably in the drafting and implementing of the USA PATRIOT Act. He also spearheaded the revision of the Attorney General's Guidelines, which govern the conduct of federal law enforcement activities and national security investigations. In addition, Dinh represented the Department of Justice in the process of selecting and confirming judges to the federal bench, securing the confirmation of 23 United States Court of Appeals and 100 District Court judges in the past two years.

Why Viet Dinh? He's young: 37 to be exact. If he lives as long as William Rehnquist, he could still be on the court in 2048. He has a compelling personal story: born in Saigon, South Vietnam, in 1968, he came to America as a refugee at age 10 after his country fell to the communist.

[SirLinksalot]

If Bush ever pulls this cat out of the bag, he will make history as the first Asian-American justice and one of the youngest.

This line says it all :

And he would be the first Asian Supreme Court justice, which means the Democrats, who are sure to come under pressure to campaign to wage a futile campaign against any Bush nominee, could alienate a small but up-for-grabs voting bloc in the process.

I'd like to see how this plays out in the Senate Debates.

[SirLinksalot]

Viet Dinh is top notch.

Dinh graduated magna cum laude from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he was a Class Marshal and an Olin Research Fellow in Law and Economics.

See his bio here :

http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/vietdinh.htm

The article also has a provocative line :

A Dinh nomination could also create awkward situations for both the Democrats' 2004 and 2008 presidential nominees. John Kerry* began his political career by confessing (albeit probably falsely) to having committed war crimes against Dinh's countrymen.

[paul in cape]

Haven't heard much about him yet, but from what I've read...not bad!

[roses of sharon]

I love, love, love, this guy.

[RWR8189]

A 37 year old justice?

Wow, talk about Bush leaving a legacy on the Court...

I don't think it will happen, but it would be quite a move.

[Last Dakotan]

Will anybody make the case for the best person regardless of race?

[basil]

Why? Tell us more. I've never heard of him, so I'd like to know more.

[roses of sharon]

He is wonderful, have you ever heard him speak?

[roses of sharon]

He is very nonpolitical, constitutional, unflappable, has common sense, smart, ect, I have seen him speak, and on several panels, he cannot be shaken, nor does he speak with derision towards others, he really loves this country and its heritage and constitution.

[Mr. Keys]

Very interesting. I really don't know much about him, but I have heard him many times and he has impressed me. He would definetly be a good choice to consider as we learn more.

[basil]

Thanks. He certainly does sound impressive.

[squirt-gun]

Excellent choice...conservative (read traditional American) all the way....

Will battle the self serving left who have been trashing America since WWII.

[GaltMeister]

And he would be the first Asian Supreme Court justice, which means the Democrats, who are sure to come under pressure to campaign to wage a futile campaign against any Bush nominee, could alienate a small but up-for-grabs voting bloc in the process.

I can hear them screeching already: "This nomination PROVES that Bush hates blacks and women!"

[Last Dakotan]

Nope, new to me. I am just sick of both parties now playing the racial spoils game.

[DoughtyOne]

This is in no way meant to reflect negatively on Viet Dinh, who may be an excellent candidate. What does bother me is that we seem to be playing into the diversity game here. I don't see that this is called for and it ticks me off.

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was white. Chief Justice Renquist was also white. And we're picking a minority because????

If someone wants to make the case for appointing a woman, I can understand that.

[leadpenny]

Go for it, W. I've seen this guy speak a couple of times on C-SPAN. Absolutely brilliant and clear-headed.

~A Nam Vet

[roses of sharon]

Funny, I have watched him for years and never really thought about his race, but Taranto brought it up, so as with everything else in this country, the right always caves to the liberal mentality.

[leadpenny]

I have great respect for you DO, but I have to ask - it's OK to play gender politics but not OK to play ethnic politics?

[ErnBatavia]

I'm feeling very old....my son was born in 1968.

[Freedom is eternally right]

During the 2000 election recount, he was one of Fox's legal analysts. Did a great job of explaining the constitutional logic behind court decisions.