It is difficult enough to articulate a coherent opinion in a First Amendment case. Try articulating an opinion on an anti-trust case or one involving the applicability of provisions of ERISA or a trade agreement.
Skill as a managing partner of a law firm does not translate into skill as a jurist who is expected to circulate an opinion that gets the approval of four other justices.
Clarence Thomas has written two or three opinions in 14 years. Not very distinguished, huh?
It is difficult enough to articulate a coherent opinion in a First Amendment case. Try articulating an opinion on an anti-trust case or one involving the applicability of provisions of ERISA or a trade agreement.
I suspect a corporate lawyer like Miers is imminently more qualified to write these business opinions than some ivory tower nerd like Stephen Breyer or Anthony Kennedy.
Not to disagree, but clerks probably do most of the writing, in some cases all of it.<(¿)>