Who Would You Nominate for the Supreme Court?

B. McLeod
May 6, 2009 4:47 PM CST

For reasons I have already noted in prior posts, I would suggest Ellen.  I now add that she also fits the parameter of not heretofore being surfaced as a likely choice by any of the media pundits.  However, I wonder if the President knows about Ellen.  It is possible, with all the other serious problems facing the country, that he does not have time to read the comments on the ABA site.  Or, even if the President is aware of Ellen’s potential suitability for the post, he may be having difficulty contacting her.  I know that this was difficult for our site moderator, because Ellen always posted without a real E-mail address.  Now, though, it would be possible for the President to send Ellen a message by posting it on her BLAWG site.  So, perhaps he will at least inquire to see if she is interested (and of course, to determine whether she could pass the “vetting”).

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ADRIAN
May 7, 2009 10:12 AM CST

It is time that the Supreme Court of the United States reflect the exceptionally high number, as well as the proportion, of those talented Far Easterners of both gender in law schools as well as the legal profession itself.

Though representing well below 10% of the total US population, their presence in law, as well as in all other fields requiring higher education, far exceeds that proportion by multiple times.

If merits mean anything in our society, the Supreme Court must play catch-up to reflect this reality.

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CJT
May 7, 2009 11:53 AM CST

Dale Osterle of the Business Law Professor Blog.  Here’s someone who not only has a keen understanding of what hurts are economy but is also willing to say it out loud in a way that people understand.  Translating that to the bench, he’d render intelligent and pragmatic judgments that follow the law.  I also don’t really see him legislating from the bench.

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DKS
May 8, 2009 5:16 AM CST

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill - she has the background, resume, and real world experience for the job.

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Professor Sarah Burns
May 8, 2009 6:12 AM CST

Professor Martha Minow of Harvard Law School.  Smart, thorough, deeply humanist, and long-time thoughtful student of American politics and legal problem-solving so would join the Court as a full and equal player from go.

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Brenda
May 8, 2009 6:34 AM CST

Kimba Wood or Judith Kaye

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J`
May 8, 2009 6:38 AM CST

Would you please have someone review your headlines before press (Whom would you nominate - not who)?

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Brendon
May 8, 2009 7:03 AM CST

Ann Claire Williams of the 7th Cicuit

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Dave Ewert
May 8, 2009 7:19 AM CST

Erwin Chemerinsky.  Prominent constitutional law scholar, premier professor, currently a law school dean.  He has a brilliant mind, he would provide balance on the court, and he reveres the Constitution.  He would bring class to the bench.

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John S.
May 8, 2009 7:42 AM CST

Nate (post #10) , Seriously? Markman or Young from the MI Supreme Court?  Seriously?  I’m not sure you could find two more activist judges if you tried, except the other two conservatives that made up the “gang of four” on the court until recently.  Those two a re ventriloquist dummies for the Chamber of Commerce.  They have all the inclinations of Scalia in terms of deciding the result they like, and backfilling with judicial excuse making, but they lack the intellectual capacity or writing ability that Scalia has.

If you want to find a conservative justice, there are plenty state court supremes that have credentials, the skills, and are not going to through principles of jurisprudence or precedence out the window when it suits them.

My vote would be a state supreme court justice, with Souter’s departure, there is very little (if any) state perspective on the court.

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Russ Brien
May 8, 2009 7:49 AM CST

John Echohawk

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Jcraven
May 8, 2009 8:14 AM CST

“Posted by DKS - 2 hours, 49 minutes ago

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill - she has the background, resume, and real world experience for the job.”

- I don’t know whether to LOL or cry.

Just what we need on the bench: a politician with an extreme ideological agenda and who knows what kind of lobbyist ties.  Did you see/hear her during the last election?! Good grief, people.

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Lysander
May 8, 2009 8:23 AM CST

Since George Bush renominated Clinton nominees Roger Gregory and Barrington Parker, I suggest that the current, post-partisan president, acting in the spirit of bipartisanship, should renominate Robert Bork to this position.

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Helen Day
May 8, 2009 8:38 AM CST

I’d choose Diane Wood, because she plays the oboe in the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra.

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Scott
May 8, 2009 8:59 AM CST

Judge Alex Kozinski, Chief Justice of the 9th Circuit.

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AndytheLawyer
May 8, 2009 9:12 AM CST

Responding to #30—Anyone who has decided that New Balance running shoes are superior to L.A. Gear or Nike is unfit to sit on the nation’s highest court.

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JME
May 8, 2009 9:13 AM CST

Not that anybody on the left would agree with this, but how about:  submit a list of qualified candidates, eliminating any information about age, sex, sexual orientation.  Eliminate information about how that person feels about abortion or gun control.  Include a brief listing of the candidate’s education and additional learning/study.  Dont’ submit someone who is an extreme left or right ideologue, we need someone who can intrepret the written law, not create new law according to their personal agenda.  Say what you will about it, whoever got selected that way would be qualified, or at least more qualified than some past Justices in our history.

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Mr. Green
May 8, 2009 9:23 AM CST

Although it would never happen because of Obama;’ ideology, Michael Luttig would be excellent. And, just to cause a stir, Janice Rogers Brown.

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Kathryn Timm
May 8, 2009 9:40 AM CST

Carol Beier, justice on the Kansas Supreme Court.  I haven’t seen her in over 20 years, but she was easily one of the most impressive women in her class at KU Law, and her legal career has lived up to the early promise.

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Jenny H
May 8, 2009 9:57 AM CST

Although nothing other than merit ever should be a factor, it would be nice to see more racial and gender diversity among the Supreme Court nominees and on the Court itself - something more along the lines of the population, not just the token representation of recent past.

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DMS
May 8, 2009 10:20 AM CST

Judge Posner.  The guy clearly gets it - the economy and the law.

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Dave McCoid
May 8, 2009 10:26 AM CST

I don’t have a name(s), but from an Iowa perspective we need to get away from the Harvard, Yale, etc mindset and get someone from the middle of the country who is or recently has been a practicing lawyer.

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Robert C. Cumbow
May 8, 2009 10:44 AM CST

Margaret McKeown, 9th Circuit judge, former Perkins Coie partner, bright, outspoken, politically appropriate to be an Obama appointee and to restore balance to the Court, thoughtful, writes well-reasoned opinions, has many years as a skilled litigator and judge, has a strong grasp of intellectual property (an increasingly big issue for the Court), and is one of the country’s best female jurists.

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S.C.
May 8, 2009 11:32 AM CST

Chief Justice Paul J. DeMuniz of the Oregon Supreme Court

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Tim
May 8, 2009 12:24 PM CST

Nelson Lund, professor of Constitutional Law at George Mason University

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