Blog for Democracy

Sears Shortlisted for SCOTUS

Sears2.jpgA “senior White House official” “tells” ABC News that former Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears is one of the “fewer than 10 names” on Obama’s shortlist to replace John Paul Stevens.

That is kind of cool. Plus all the pundits were saying on Sunday Obama wants to go with someone from outside of D.C. and the “judicial monastery”, preferably a woman as well. She fits the bill. I think she also fits Obama’s style too.

I don’t know, she looks rather Justice-like to me.

H/T: Peach Pundit.

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6 responses to “Sears Shortlisted for SCOTUS”

  1. J.M. Prince Avatar
    J.M. Prince

    Precisely my point Sara. We really desperately need someone immediately more reliable. We can not wait like JPS for his views to ‘mature’ or his/her opinions to firm up in the face of revanchist opposition.

    And yes IRE, they’re all supposed to be white male WASPS (mostly) like they were prior to 1980. Bearded & Ivy league & clubbable preferred no doubt. It’s the 21st century. I want robots too. JMP

  2. Sarawaraclara Avatar
    Sarawaraclara

    From what I have read, Elena Kagan may be more moderate/conservative than many realize. Particularly on executive power issues. We might like that during a Dem presidency, but what about the next time a Republican gets elected?

  3. innerredneckexposed Avatar
    innerredneckexposed

    The court isn’t supposed to be representative of the U.S.

  4. J.M. Prince Avatar
    J.M. Prince

    Well there’s that, and the fact that if they decide to filibuster the nominee, it’ll basically destroy the device for all time. So I think it’s a head fake. No doubt they’ll oppose any nominee, (that’s now to be expected), but that’s no reason not to try and get someone in there who’s *almost* as ‘liberal’ as JPS. Which is to say a ‘normal’, run of the mill, GOP moderate in the mode of fashion of Gerry Ford. You know the now extinct whiggish progressive kinds of folks.

    So me, I’d want to get someone with a stronger track record, which of course means that we’ll wind up with somewhat of a cipher like EK, as that’s yet another path to greatness it seems. Hide down low so no one much notices. Don’t ever publish much so no one will suspect. That’s how we got Alito & Roberts too.

    But again, someone outside the sphere of the ‘Eastern establishment’ would be nice too. All too many on the court gravitate that way. So in addition to being the most reactionary court in perhaps 100 years, they’re mostly now from either the East or West coast, and a plurality of Catholics as well. Which is yes, pretty ‘queer’ for a court trying to represent the entire US. I know. Sue me. JMP

  5. Sarawaraclara Avatar
    Sarawaraclara

    She’ll get confirmed quickly, which would be the reason to nominate her (or Merrick Garland.) A “consistently liberal voice” is liable in this Senate atmosphere to result in a filibuster that lasts into the midterms. That would be a political disaster and could result in the defeat of the nominee if the Senate drops to razor thin margins of control. Also, I think Sears would be a safe liberal vote on most issues. I think she resigned and let Perdue appoint her replacement because she finds election fights over supreme court seats to be distasteful.

  6. Jason Cecil Avatar
    Jason Cecil

    I’m not thrilled about Sears for the Supreme Court. Yes, she was fairly liberal in her opinions while on the bench, FOR GEORGIA. But I have not forgiven her for having us work our butts off to get her re-elected only to retire and HAND her seat to Sonny Perdue (who tried to unseat her!) to fill. Yes, she helped overturn Georgia’s sodomy statute way before Lawrence v. Texas… but I’m not convinced she’d be the consistently liberal voice we need on the court.

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