Former Chief Justice Rehnquist?

The Weekly Standard ^ | 11/07/2002 | Terry Eastland

[apillar]

I remember reading an article that President Bush already has two hand picked replacements waiting in the wings in case of retirements, one was a conservative hispanic judge from Texas I don't remember who the other one was.

[Mike Fieschko]

I'd expect the CJ to retire after the court's session. It ends in June, no?

[gubamyster]

Sandra Day O'Connor was planning on getting out too, wasn't she?

Yes, that has been speculated.

[BuddhaBoy]

The other one, unfortunetly, is Orrin Hatch.

[VRWC_minion]

Wait till after the next election. The deck is still too stacked.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Perhaps that NOW hag, Ginsberg, will quit, too.

[Britton J Wingfield]

What sort of majority is needed to confirm a supreme?

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Clarence Thomas for Chief justice!

[rmmcdaniell]

What sort of majority is needed to confirm a supreme?

51...but the dems could attempt a fillibuster.

[E.Allen]

Just a thought, I don't think he's that conservative, but it would be funny watching Democrats saying how rotten, low down and no good Guiliani was. Save the tapes for next election, we'd carry New York and probably other states because of it.

[Cicero]

John Paul Stevens is 81. He probably won't step down voluntarily unless he gets really ill, but how much longer can he keep going? He'd be 87 by the time Bush leaves office. Of course a lame duck president is at a disadvantage as his term draws to a close. Better to do it earlier if possible.

Replacing Rehnquist won't make the court more conservative, but it will make the conservatives younger so they might ride out another Dem in office. Replacing O'Connor could definitely improve things.

[gubamyster]

He probably won't step down voluntarily unless he gets really ill

Maybe his wife can feed him bacon, as Julianne Malveaux might suggest.

[itsahoot]

The other one, unfortunetly, is Orrin Hatch.

I am afraid you are right. Orin claims that Ted Kennedy is
his best friend. Strange bedfellows.

I would hope that Senator Fred Thompson(retired) might be considered.

[bankwalker]

The other one, unfortunetly, is Orrin Hatch.

too old

[Cosmo]

I recall an article reporting that when The networks called Florida for Gore, O'Connor was upset because shewanted to retire but didn't want to do so during a Gore administration.

[Congressman Billybob]

I know Terry Eastland, who used to be an Assistant Attorney General under the Republicans. I also know the history of appointments of Justices which he describes. And I agree with every word he wrote here.

Any Justice concerned about his/her age and infirmities (it was appropriate that Eastland did not mention the bouts with cancer that some Justices have had), should pick June, 2003, as the time to hang up his/her robe.

They should not, and perhaps physically can not, wait until after the presidential election of 2004 before resigning. I think the conclusion of the article, which is based on clear analysis and not inside information, is correct. I also conclude that at least two Justices will retire in June.

Notice I say, "at least." For liberal Justices like Ginsberg the equation is reversed. There is no good time for them to retire. Are they going to wait until 2009 after a Democrat President has been sworn in, to retire? Can they make it that long, even if they want to for ideological reasons?

And I also agree with the final line of the article. With my interests and prejudices, I have long thought the most important and lasting factor about the election of Presidents and Senators is their 30-year (on average) effect on the appointment of judges and Justices who serve for life, per the Constitution. November 7, 2002, was an historic day for the quality and direction of federal jurisprudence. Because I am an unreconstructed Constitution-hound, I an very pleased by that result.

Congressman Billybob