Comments on: Brett Kavanaugh confirmed by Senate, sworn in as Justice

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 02:14:06 +0000

I didn’t know that about Stevens and military service, John.

While we’re on the subject of sameness-of-backgrounds, I think Thomas is the only one left with any meaningful state government experience – but as a state deputy AG, which is maybe a lot like the 4 or 5 who were in the Federal executive branch?

By: John Rohan

John Rohan — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 15:35:24 +0000

In reply to Steve. Good point by Steve. One might think there are no law schools left other than Harvard and Yale. IIRC, there also aren't any military veterans on the court anymore. I believe John Paul Stevens was the last one. That should be a consideration with future nominees.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 17:58:27 +0000

Were I a senator, I’d have rejected him out of hand for the same reason I’d have rejected 6 other members of the court out of hand: there was already someone on the court with their degree from the same law school. I mean, they’re close emough in age that he probably had some of the same professors as Sotomayor. I don’t care what differences their ideologies create, one faculty shouldn’t have that much influence on the court members’ thinking.

By: Canvasback

Canvasback — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 16:12:02 +0000

If he’s half the character the opposition say he is, and adding in last week’s display of temper, he’s got the potential to be a hairy-chested throwback to the Jacksonian era. A welcome addition to the court.

By: MattS

MattS — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 14:43:08 +0000

And not to forget that the bulk of Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing discussed issues of jurisprudence

Yes, the sexual misconduct allegations weren’t raised until the very end of the normal hearing, when it was clear that they wouldn’t be able to convince a single Republican to vote against Kavanaugh on the basis of his jurisprudence.

The initial point of these allegations was not to convince any of the Republicans to vote against Kavanaugh, but to re-open the FBI background investigation in an open-ended way, thereby putting off any action on Kavanaugh’s nomination until the next session starts next year, with the expectation that the Democrats would retake control of the Senate in the November elections. Then they would have the votes to defeat his nomination or even be able to prevent it from coming to a vote.