When Kerry wins, who will be the next Chief Justice?

[Sandpiper]

It looks like Mr. Chief Justice Rehnquist's reign is about to come to an end, one way or another, which means we'll be needing a new CJ.

My prediction for the next Chief Justice after Kerry wins on Tuesday is David Souter. He's a member of the liberal wing of the court, is only 65 so he should have plenty of years left, and he was a Bush 41 appointee, which would make it tougher for the Pubbies to oppose him.

As much as I'd like to see Ruth Bader Ginsburg become the first female Chief Justice, given her history with colon cancer, I think Souter is the safer choice.

[salinen]

1. I like George Mitchell

or Souter.

[Drifter]

4. Psssttttthhhhhhhh ....

Crap, I thought that said George Micheals (from WHAM fame).

Had a good laugh, but at the expense of my keyboard and monitor.

Cheers
Drifter

[MikeG]

9. Too old. We need a forty year justice.

[SCantiGOP]

2. how about Clinton

Either one of them.

[Bronco69]

3. I think it should be

Bill Clinton! :-) Wouldn't that be a kick in the head to the repukes? LOL

[dolstein]

5. David Souter

I think there's a good chance Kerry would elevate an associate justice, and Souter best fits Kerry's criteria. And since he was appointed by a Republican president, it would appear to be a bipartisan gesture.

[bemildred]

7. Souter would be excellent. nt

[mikehiggins]

6. Sauter would do, but I suspect Kerry would look to add another

liberal voice, not just replace the outgoing CJ.

Who that might be I simply cannot imagine.

[bemildred]

8. Want lots of new blood, but making someone CJ still leave a vacancy. nt

[MikeG]

10. I, MikeG, am 46 and licensed to practice law.

[freetobegay]

11. William Jefferson Clinton

He's barred from practing law, but that doesn't stop him from being a Supreme! The ultimate in the slaying of the freeps.

[NewJeffCT]

18. I'm worried about his health in the long-term

Great choice and not too old... but, the RW would probably filibuster his nomination.

[Sandpiper]

24. Filibuster?

Hell, they'd probably encourage an armed uprising if Clinton was the nominee.

[genius]

12. Someone who cares about the rights of the accused

Johnny Cochran.

[MikeG]

16. Messy divorce. Won't get confirmed.

[genius]

29. Half our elected officials are divorced. That's not an issue

Remember Clarence Thomas. He dumped his African-American wife for a rich white one.

[robsul82]

13. Souter.

And I'm a big fan of the idea of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court William Jefferson Clinton. :)

Later.

RJS

[dolstein]

21. Only a fool would nominate someone who had a quadrupal bypass

NT

[robsul82]

38. Only a bigger fool wouldn't try.

n/t

Later.

RJS

[kskiska]

14. Cuomo would be great

but for longevity's sake, it should be someone younger.

[djg21]

15. Soutrer is hardly a "liberal."

He was appointhed by Bush 41, and is fairly centrist. I'd expect Ginsburg to become Chief Justice.

[dolstein]

19. He's as liberal as anyone on the court.

That being the case, it makes more sense to nominate him than someone like Ginsburg, a Clinton nominee who's had colon cancer is unlikely to stay on the court as long as Souter.

[Sandpiper]

23. The most liberal member of the court is a Republican appointee

John Paul Stevens.

Chief Justice Warren, liberal icon, was also a Republican appointee.

[mitchtv]

17. Judge Judy ;head and shoulders above 5 of them

common sense has its virtues

[Bandit]

20. Bill Clinton

Or Jimmie Carter

[Sandpiper]

22. We want a CJ that will be in for multiple decades

Jimmy's 80 years old, so I don't think he'll be on the short list.

[4_Legs_Good]

25. I want O'Connor

She's my favorite.

Plus it would be a very nice way to try to bring us together. Plus, she deserves it.

david

[ShaneGR]

26. O'Connor won't make it another 4 years

I think Kerry gets the chance to nominate 2 justices.

[4_Legs_Good]

28. I think you're right, but give her a couple years at Chief Justice

And put the new guy/woman in as an associate.

It'll help heal the massive Bush divisions in the country.

david

[genius]

31. She belongs in jail. Kerry might as well appoint Rove.

[4_Legs_Good]

33. :) She made one really bad judgement...

but she's tried to make up for it since then.

She's the one justice, IMO, that takes each case on its merit more than on his/her ideology. I love Stevens, but I wish all the justices were more like O'Connor.

david

[genius]

30. She's a right-wing nutcase

He needs to appoint someone who's not a crazy right-winger.

[4_Legs_Good]

34. Why is she a right-wing nutcase?

She's not always right, but she's not always wrong either. I think she's a good moderate who is thinking about the what's best, not about political ideology.

I may be wrong, but since 2001, I think she's made mostly good judgements.

david

[atre]

36. You must not read many of her opinions

She's among the worst on the Court.

[Stinky The Clown]

27. Sen George Mitchell, hands down

[sidwill]

32. Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

She wrote the dissenting opinion in BUsh V Gore.

[4_Legs_Good]

35. I thought Stevens did. I remember his

"it may never be clear who was the winner, but it's crystal clear who is the loser - the American people's trust in the Supreme Court..."

or something like that.

Ahhhhhhhhh

david

[atre]

37. Harvard Law Professor Laurence H. Tribe

Here's a short bio:

http://www.law.harvard.edu/faculty/directory/facdir.php?id=74