[Noachian]

... -- and the role of the justice they were nominated to replace -- are important.

If the SFC editors think that the role of a SC nominee should mirror a previous justice then what about liberal Justice Ginsberg who took over Justice Bryon White's seat as a Clinton appointee?

Was she "another Bryon White"?

[Simo Hayha]

When all said and done, though, most nominees that make it to the court exhibit a streak of independence. Isn't it true that 7 of 9 justices on the court have been nominated by Republican administrations?

And when one of the panels was testifying, Professor Liu suggested that Judge Alito's memo on Tennessee v Garner was proof enough that Mr. Alito should be questioned. Ironically, the memo mirrored somewhat Justice O'Connor's opinion in the case, the quintessential gun case.