I Should Like to See Howard Dean on the Supreme Court

[NashVegas]

He looks good in black.

[hfojvt]

1. he doesn't have a law degree

I am not sure why that should matter, except it means that legal issues are decided by legalese instead of by logic.

After the Civil War, William Tecumsah Sherman asked the head of the bar in Kansas what he needed to do to pass the bar and he was told "nothing, that I will admit you on the grounds of general intelligence". Thus, he became a lawyer. Somewhat similarly, my grandmother graduated from High School in 1912, took a state test, passed it, and became a teacher for grades 1-12.

[NashVegas]

2. You Don't Need One

There are gazillions of clerks to look up case files. What's needed are clear logical skills and foresight. IIRC there have been some notable SCOTUS justices, maybe even a chief justice, without law degrees.

[hfojvt]

3. I agree,

but I bet there hasn't been one in the last 50 years. You know the right wing would be squawking 'unqualified, unqualified' if we tried, and we'd do the same thing to them. In fact, I tried to hit Roberts for his lack of judicial experience.

[NashVegas]

4. I Did Some Looking Up

The first SC justice with a "modern" law degree was about 100 years ago.

[MilesColtrane]

5. I think his talents should be utilized in the job he has now.

...at least for the next three federal election cycles.