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The next Supreme Court vacancy: Will the Left oppose Kagan? No Protestants on the Court?

March 10, 2010  
NRO

From National Review Online’s Bench Memos:  http://bench.nationalreview.com/
By Ed Whelan

If (as I expect) there is a Supreme Court vacancy soon, one big question that will affect the political dynamic over the White House’s selection of a nominee is whether the Left will mount vigorous and effective opposition to the possible nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan.  It is a remarkable testament to the perceived political impotence of the Left that everyone seems to take for granted that the answer to that question is no.  

Judicial Crisis Network Seeks Withdrawal of Justice O'Connor in Ohio Race for Chief Justice

March 8, 2010  
JCN Logo

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Judicial Crisis Network (Formerly: The Judicial Confirmation Network/www.judicialnetwork.com) in a letter delivered on Thursday, has respectfully asked Justice Maureen O'Connor to withdraw her candidacy for Chief Justice so the current balance of Ohio Supreme Court is preserved.

As it has been reported previously, and noted by Justice O'Connor herself, her candidacy for Chief Justice, if successful, will actually tilt the Supreme Court to the left. Win or lose Governor Strickland will be able to appoint Justice O'Connor's replacement and will undoubtedly appoint a liberal judicial activist to the court.

Forecasting the Next Supreme Court Vacancy and Nominee

February 24, 2010   |   Filed In:
NRO

On SCOTUSblog, Tom Goldstein has a long and interesting post in which he forecasts that (1) Justice Stevens “very likely will retire” this spring; (2) Justice Ginsburg “definitely will not”; and (3) President Obama will nominate Elena Kagan to replace Stevens.

My own assessments differ primarily in nuance from Goldstein’s (and that may well be because he has better access to inside information than I do). As I’ve been saying since September of last year, I believe that Stevens’s hiring of only one clerk for next term is a clear signal that he intends to resign. One circumstance that I think could change Stevens’s plan would be if Ginsburg’s health were to lead her to resign.

Stealth war over judges

February 17, 2010  
Law.com

The scene has become familiar in the U.S. Senate: A nominee for a federal judgeship lingers for months without a confirmation vote, held up by an anonymous objection, but, when the roll is eventually called, not a single senator votes against the nominee.

Long waits, followed by unanimous confirmation.

Conservative Judicial Group Moves Into Crisis Mode

February 11, 2010  
The Blog of Legal Times

The Judicial Confirmation Network, which has been a significant conservative voice in recent Supreme Court confirmation battles, is expanding its mission and adding urgency to its name: from now on, you can call it the Judicial Crisis Network. It will take on state as well as federal judicial battles and the Department of Justice, and issues relating to limited government, a fair judiciary and the rule of law. It is keeping the same Web site.

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