That's not true. State supreme courts deal with federal constitutional issues every day. O'Connor came out of a state court of appeal (Arizona); she wasn't even on that state's top court.
"That's not true. State supreme courts deal with federal constitutional issues every day. O'Connor came out of a state court of appeal (Arizona); she wasn't even on that state's top court."
From a strategic standpoint, nominating Janice Rogers Brown would be a good move. Let the Dems try to shoot her down, in what will likely be a highly public display of hypocrisy. And, I've read enough of her opinions to think that this lady is constructionist to the core. This is not exactly the politically popular view for being elected in her state, so there's no motive for her to misstate her position that I can see.
"That's not true. State supreme courts deal with federal constitutional issues every day"
No they don't- I used to work for one. We very rarely dealt with a federal constitutional issue. Tort cases, criminal cases, that kind of thing was our bread and butter.
"O'Connor came out of a state court of appeal (Arizona)"
So did David Souter.
Are you really saying we should nominate Brown because she's like O'Connor?
It'd be better to have a proven conservative than Brown--I like her, but to my understanding, we know nothing about her on gun rights. Nothing.
Brown has a better chance of getting through, but I'd rather see a conservative nominee lying broken on the Capitol steps than see a closet gun thief on the court.