ConfirmThem

By Lorie Byrd Posted in SCOTUS — Comments () / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Yesterday Ankle Biting Pundits posted a link to this AP story that says Chief Justice Rehnquist will likely retire by the end of June, but that it could occur anytime after Memorial Day. I don't suppose that is exactly big news, but the story also says that President Bush has winnowed his list of potential Supreme Court nominees down to a handful, while some believe a specific person could already have been chosen.

John McGinnis, a law professor at Northwestern University and former deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's office of legal counsel, said he thinks Bush already might have made up his mind.

"This White House — I congratulate it on its ability to be secret," McGinnis said. "It's entirely possible that Rehnquist has already communicated his intention to step down and the White House has a plan absolutely set."

I would personally be shocked if the White House did not already have a plan absolutely set considering what has transpired over the past four years. This promises to be the mother of all judicial confirmation battles and this excerpt from the AP story quoted by ABP filled me with dread thinking about the upcoming media coverage we will have to endure.

Liberals hope Bush will fill his first vacancy with a centrist, a consensus candidate, instead of one who would please right-wing Republicans who were instrumental in the president's re-election. But they acknowledge that may be wishful thinking.

It does not matter who George Bush nominates -- that person will be branded a right-wing extremist. I am sure he knows that, so hopefully he will nominate the person he thinks will best serve the country. I have little doubt that will be the case. Hopefully, the Senate Republicans will also support that person. I am less sure about that.