A cautionary tale

[dsc]

for those who think Roberts is closeted and that would be a great thing.

In 1986, Lewis Powell had a gay law clerk but didn't know it. While Powell authored his concurring opinion in Bowers v Hardwick, the case which allowed sodomy laws to stay in place, much of the grunt work was being done by a gay man who was afraid to come out to his powerful boss. Powell has later called his decision in Bowers v Hardwick one of his few mistakes on the court and it stayed in effect until 2003.

My point here is that even well placed gays don't help if they live in fear of being exposed. I don't think Roberts is gay. But even if he is, that doesn't mean he will be there for us.

[Lex]

1. You are right. Closeted gay people have some serious

self-loathing issues and they can be sometimes be the MOST homophobic of all.

[MuseRider]

2. Roy Cohn n/t

[maine_raptor]

3. This case maybe different., dsc

Consider this:

The job Roberts will hold is a LIFETIME one. He can only be removed via impeachment or death (or resignation). The position of Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court is the apex of the legal pyramid, there is no higher position for a person with a legal career.

Many individuals have gone into that position (Chief or Associate Justice) and have been liberated from past views. A good example of this is Earl Warren. He was a conservative Governor of California, was instrumental in getting the ball rolling of the internment of Japanese-Americans at the start of WWII (made the initial request to FDR), yet when he was appointed as Chief of the Court by Ike, he became one of the most liberal Supreme Court Chiefs ever.

The man might not make the robes, the sometimes the robes can make the man.