Court intrigue is just looking for an opening (USSC Rehnquist replacement)

[papau]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/supremecourtjustices/2005-02-28-supreme-future_x.htm

Court intrigue is just looking for an opening
By Joan Biskupic, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — <snip>•Bush wants to give the Supreme Court its first Hispanic justice — but perhaps not now.

<snip>But if Rehnquist leaves soon, most of those in line to be top contenders for chief justice happen to be conservative white judges on federal appeals courts, according to 10 lawyers who either have advised the White House on legal issues or who have done research for the administration on possible nominees. The lawyers do not comment publicly on Supreme Court nominations because of the sensitivity of preparing a list of candidates when there is no vacancy.

Among the top contenders for chief, the lawyers say, would be Samuel Alito, 54, of the U.S. appeals court based in Philadelphia; and J. Harvie Wilkinson, 60, and Michael Luttig, 50, both of whom are on the federal appeals court based in Richmond, Va.

A few judges whom Bush has put on the federal bench also would be candidates. They include John Roberts, 50, a lawyer in the Reagan and first Bush administrations who is on the U.S. appeals court in Washington, D.C., and Michael McConnell, 49, a former University of Utah law professor who is on the Denver-based U.S. appeals court.
<snip>
Meanwhile, liberal groups such as the Alliance for Justice and People for the American Way are preparing to go on the offensive once a nomination is made. They are working on the assumption that Bush would pick a conservative who, like Rehnquist, would favor restrictions on abortion rights, affirmative action and other liberal causes.<snip>

[TaleWgnDg]

1. Bush to Scalia: "try this on for size" . . .

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GWBush to Scalia: "try this on for size" . . .

the wire coathanger is a symbol of deadly and filthy back-alley
illegal abortions prior to Roe v. Wade (1973)



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