All-time favorite Supreme Court Justice that would never be nominated in this day and age?

[taterguy]

My vote would be William O. Douglas.

He liked to drink to excess, and even left a papertrail about that.

He was a womanizer.

By most accounts he was an absolute pain in the ass to work for or with.

But on issues that matter to me he was a tireless advocate.

He also was almost single-handedly responsible for the C&O Canal Towpath being preserved as a recreational trail, instead of being turned into a highway.

Who's yours?

[BlooInBloo]

1. Gore Vidal.

[Thrill]

2. Earl Warren

.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. The Honorable Disembodied Head of Snoop Doggy Dogg.

His decision in the case of Turanga Leela vs. Wong Enterprises in 3009, while I didn't like it, was fair.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

6. Outrageous! The womens' votes only counted as half votes!

[GreenTea]

4. Earl Warren!

[Jack Rabbit]

5. I agree on Douglas

[Glorfindel]

7. I agree on Douglas

Runner-up: William Joseph Brennan, Jr.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Ginsberg

She would never get on the court today

[Captain Hilts]

10. Interesting! How so?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. Things are way to fractious these days

Anyone with much of anything published will be targeted by some group. Ginsberg former role as head of the ACLU would be turned over with a fine tooth comb.

[Captain Hilts]

16. I'd forgotten abou that. But Bubba's time was much more conservative.

I think it would be easier now.

That's just my take.

The long track record is an issue. Good point.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Since bubbas time the process for judicial confirmation has become a nasty battleground

[Captain Hilts]

26. That't true, but it's always been pretty tough. nt

[Captain Hilts]

9. Bill Douglas was a BAD boy! But, agreed. Hell, FDR wouldn't be elected, or Eleanor.

Different times.

I commuted on the Crescent Trail and towpath to Capitol Hill for two years. The ride up to Bethesda damn near killed me every day.

[gratuitous]

11. So many . . .

But I'll go with Oliver Wendell Holmes and Felix Frankfurter for two.

[Zomby Woof]

12. John Marshall

The Original "activist judge".

Thurgood Marshall as well.

[taterguy]

13. I honestly don't know what would disqualify Thurgood today

I thought he was a relatively "safe" choice.

In fact, I suspect that LBJ had him thoroughly investigated before-hand; given the stakes involved.

[Zomby Woof]

24. I would like to agree

But he was outspoken, and that seems to be verboten these days. In any event, I wanted to mention him, because he is one of my favorites.

[XemaSab]

15. Taft

n/t

[Mike 03]

17. I didn't know this about Douglas. This is fascinating. I only know what I read about him

in Woodward's great book THE BRETHREN.

Are there some books you'd recommend on William Douglas? I'd love to learn more about this guy. He was fascinating.

[Captain Hilts]

18. Vol. one of his auto bio: Go East Young Man, OR the parts about him in

The Secret Diary of Harold Ickes.

Douglas was one of the few progressives around FDR in his last two years. Ickes and Eleanor being the others. Wallace was already on the outs as was Hopkins.

[Mike 03]

21. Thank you! Appreciated! NT

[taterguy]

20. I really enjoyed Bruce Murphy's book Wild Bill: The Legend and Life of William O. Douglas

[Mike 03]

22. Fantastic. Thanks to all of you. I'm writing these down NT

[Mike 03]

23. Just curious: What do you think about Woodward's depiction of him in

The Brethren? Do you feel it was fairly accurate or way off?

And on Edit:

This is a very creative and interesting thread, thank you!

[Captain Hilts]

25. I'm ashamed to admit I havent' read it. I really should. MUST reading! nt

[taterguy]

29. The only reason I've read Wild Bill is that it was prominently displayed at my library

I had to read Murphy's book about Fortas for a college paper so I snagged it.

[Captain Hilts]

30. They're all line drives in the boxscore. You've read it and I haven't. nt

[JI7]

27. Brandeis , Warren ?

not sure if they would never be nominated in this day and age though.

but it really says something if these people would not while someone like Clarance Thomas sits up there. funny how the party that is always complaining about affirmative action actually put someone up there ONLY because of their race even when they were unqualified.

[JI7]

28. Souter's lack of too much paper trail might prevent him from becoming Justice today

partly because of Souter himself . people would want to be sure of the justice's history and positions on certain issues.