Who Should Be The Next Chief Justice of SCOTUS?

[Seneca]

Another thread about Clinton's international poll ratings made me wonder. One day, there will be a new Chief Justice appointed, and it does NOT have to be from the ranks of the current bench.

Bad enough we have Rehnquist on the high seat, with Scalia in tow. I shudder to think of any of the current crop from the Right ascending to the chair.

My fantasy pick for future Chief Justice would be Bill Clinton. That would drive the right-wing crazy beyond belief. He would be such a lightning rod, that the Congress would have to have 80% Democratic control to pull it off.

So... who is your pick for the next Chief Justice? No rules, but see if you can pick someone currently living, and qualified - even if immensely polarizing (like Clinton). We have had one past president become Chief Justice: William Howard Taft. There are no provisions in the Constitution prohibiting it.

[goobergunch]

1. John Paul Stevens (n/t)

[Ninga]

2. Withoutadoubt.........

Mario Cuomo!

[Seneca]

3. great choice!

More realistic than Clinton, and a perfect way to cap a career of public service.

I STILL marvel at his speech at the 1984 Democratic Convention. :-)

Btw... Welcome to DU! :hi:

[newyawker99]

15. Hi Ninga!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[wuushew]

4. Judge Dredd

I am the law!

[baldguy]

7. Oh yea! THAT'S what we need!

Why not John Ashcroft?

[clar]

5. Souter

I just like him.

[kodi]

12. agreed, he or o'conner are the only one's who the senate would pass

who were placed on the court by a republican president,

o'connor is expected to be the prohibitive favorite, but her health might be an issue, that might leave it to kennedy, but democrats would prefer souter.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Who should, or who will? Who will, is going to be Orrin Hatch

Senators are reluctant to vote against one of their own, even when it is a Neanderthal like Hatch.

Who should, I would impeach 2/3 of the judiciary, getting rid of any judge connected to the Federalist Society.

But then, I am a Marxist-Leninist, and I have little patience playing fair with people that never followed the rules to begin with.

[Seneca]

13. it is a fantasy thread

So in this case, who you think should.

I agree with your Federalist Society assessment. May we also add Opus Dei?

[The Zanti Regent]

8. John Edwards for Chief Justice

Let him use his gavel to crack Scalia and Uncle Tom Thomas repeatedly!

[baldguy]

9. Bill Bradley. Lanhi Guinier(sp?).

I KNOW!

ANITA HILL!

[Seneca]

14. I like Bradley!

Anita Hill!!! Oh, I think I just heard Limabugh keel over at the Sizzler Buffet! :D

[Fixated]

10. ....

Stevens is too old, I just want him to last until Bush gets out of office. If that's in 2008, it might be a long shot...

Basically, for me it's about who I DON'T want as Chief Justice, and that is Scalia.

[HPLeft]

11. John Edwards?

Why not (assuming he doesn't win the Presidency or serve as the V.P.)? He's young and would be around for quite a while.