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F R I D A Y , J U L Y 2 2 , 2 0 0 5Reading Tea Leaves On Supreme CourtNomineeby Michael in New York on
7/22/2005 12:56:00 PMThe NYT looks at the brief judicial career of Judge Roberts. Theverdict? He ain't no Sandra Day O'Connor.In some ways, said Richard H. Pildes, a law professor atNew York University, Judge Roberts's approach mostresembles that of Justice Antonin Scalia."Like Scalia," Professor Pildes said, "he appears to becommitted to a strong priority to the texts of statutes. Andthat might extend to the texts of the Constitution."One theme that emerges from Judge Roberts's decisions iswide deference to executive power, at least whereCongress has authorized it.But this comment from Sen. Specter in an article about the need forRoberts to be forthcoming is what struck me.As he makes the rounds of senators who will decide hisfate, Judge John G. Roberts has been noncommittal aboutthe kinds of questions he will answer during hisconfirmation hearings, but has said that if confirmed to theSupreme Court, he will place a high emphasis on "modesty"and "stability.""I considered his comments on modesty and stabilityto be highly significant," Senator Arlen Specter,Republican of Pennsylvania and the chairman of the SenateJudiciary Committee, said Thursday, recounting a one-hoursession Wednesday that ranged across the legal landscape,including whether Supreme Court hearings should betelevised and how much leeway the courts should take ininterpreting acts of Congress.Isn't this a little ridiculous? We're deciding whether to give someone alifetime appointment to the Supreme Court and senators are trying todecipher gnomic utterances of the nominee? Is it too much to hopethat a nominee could be honest and straightforward about his judicialphilosophy, speak cogently about landmark Supreme Court decisionsand the sort of judge he'd like to be? Why should we be analyzing hisevery utterance like Kreminologists who studied photos to see whowas in and out in Moscow? It's absurd, frankly.
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7/22/2005 12:56:00 PMThe NYT looks at the brief judicial career of Judge Roberts. Theverdict? He ain't no Sandra Day O'Connor.In some ways, said Richard H. Pildes, a law professor atNew York University, Judge Roberts's approach mostresembles that of Justice Antonin Scalia."Like Scalia," Professor Pildes said, "he appears to becommitted to a strong priority to the texts of statutes. Andthat might extend to the texts of the Constitution."One theme that emerges from Judge Roberts's decisions iswide deference to executive power, at least whereCongress has authorized it.But this comment from Sen. Specter in an article about the need forRoberts to be forthcoming is what struck me.As he makes the rounds of senators who will decide hisfate, Judge John G. Roberts has been noncommittal aboutthe kinds of questions he will answer during hisconfirmation hearings, but has said that if confirmed to theSupreme Court, he will place a high emphasis on "modesty"and "stability.""I considered his comments on modesty and stabilityto be highly significant," Senator Arlen Specter,Republican of Pennsylvania and the chairman of the SenateJudiciary Committee, said Thursday, recounting a one-hoursession Wednesday that ranged across the legal landscape,including whether Supreme Court hearings should betelevised and how much leeway the courts should take ininterpreting acts of Congress.Isn't this a little ridiculous? We're deciding whether to give someone alifetime appointment to the Supreme Court and senators are trying todecipher gnomic utterances of the nominee? Is it too much to hopethat a nominee could be honest and straightforward about his judicialphilosophy, speak cogently about landmark Supreme Court decisionsand the sort of judge he'd like to be? Why should we be analyzing hisevery utterance like Kreminologists who studied photos to see whowas in and out in Moscow? It's absurd, frankly.
Add New CommentYou are commenting as a Guest. You may select one to log into:
EschatonPretty Much - I think this encapsulates nicely ourmodern media environment.1 hour ago
HuffPost PoliticsHuckabee's Huck Pac In Turmoil With StaffTurnover, Mounting Debts - Former Arkansas Gov.Mike Huckabee's political action committee, HuckPac, is undergoing a "restructuring," ExecutiveDirector Sarah Huckabee said Wednesday....1 hour ago
Ben SmithGoing small - My story tonight: President BarackObama came alive about 50 minutes intoWednesday night’s news conference – whensomebo1 hour ago
FiredoglakeLate Late Night FDL: What Eclipse? - A new videofrom Fatoumata Diawara, and and oldie from Bob.2 hours ago
Daily KosOpen Thread and Diary Rescue - *Today, srkp23(pulling a double shift), ybruti, taylormattd,ItsJessMe and vcmvo2 combed through hundredsof diaries to find this powerful list. Today's...2 hours agoJ O H N ' S P H OT O S
Show AllA M E R I C A B L O G T V
Next 6AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Readi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/07/reading-tea-leaves-on-su...
1 of 57/23/09 3:17 AM
Visit ourAMERICAblog TV site.see all 322 videos >I collect with
vodpod
In honor of SenatorDeMint
For the GOPers, healthcare is politics. They just
Traditional media has todebunk the birthers
One small step...
The right-wing media, thevoices of the GOP, inAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Readi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/07/reading-tea-leaves-on-su...
2 of 57/23/09 3:17 AM
The TreatmentObama Has a Grown-UpTalk With America(Gulp)3 hours agoEzra KleinTab Dump7 hours agoWonk RoomSen. Byron Dorgan:The ‘Trade’ InCap-And-Trade ‘MakesNo Sense To Me’8 hours agoHealth BeatTruth Squad: WallStreet Journal HealthCare Editorial Wrong onthe Facts . . .9 hours agoDaily DoseProviders Endorse 'Payfor Value' ProposalsG AY P O L I T I C S
Visit our new gay politicssection, AMERICAblog Gay.F E E D S
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AmoLatino.comAds by GoogleTop AdAdvertise in this spot.H E A LT H C A R ER E F O R MAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Readi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/07/reading-tea-leaves-on-su...
3 of 57/23/09 3:17 AM
S E A R C H
AMERICAblog
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SearchS E N D U S T I P S &C O M M E N T Samericablog@starpower.netB L O G A R C H I V E
Blog ArchiveS I T E S W E L I K EAir America RadioAlan Colmes' blogAri Melber (The Nation)Ben SmithBicycleMark's blog &podcastBilericoBradBlogBring It OnCarrie FisherCrooks and LiarsDailyKosDan Savage's "Slog"Daou ReportDemocratic UndergroundEschatonEzra KleinFire Dog LakeFiveThirtyEight.comFreeway BloggerThe Gavel (SpeakerPelosi's blog)Good As YouGlenn GreenwaldHoly Bullies and HeadlessMonstersHuffington PostHullabaloo (Digby)Jack and Jill PoliticsJed ReportJesus' GeneralKenneth in the 212Margaret and HelenMatthew GrossMedia MattersMike Signorile's "The Gist"MudflatsMyDDOpen LeftPlum LinePolitical Punch (JakeTapper)Political WirePolitics 1Pop SurfingProgressive Blog DigestQueers UnitedRawStoryRex WocknerRude PunditSmirking ChimpTalk LeftTappedTaylor MarshThink ProgressTowleRoadVetVoice.comWashington NoteWayneBesen.comWonketteWorth Repeating
N E W S L I N K SUSWashington PostNYTAP PoliticsReuters PoliticsRasmussen PollsTimeNewsweekRoll CallThe HillABCNews
P L E A S E S U P P O RTA M E R I C A B L O GOne-time donation$
Recurring monthlydonation$
Donations are nottax-deductible.L A B E L S
Select a labelL A S T 1 0 0 V I S I T O R SRecent Visitors
A B O U TA M E R I C A B L O GWhy AMERICAblog?Because a great nationdeserves the truth.What issues do youcover?US politics overall with aparticular focus on theObama Administration, theradical right, and civilrights.Who are you?John AravosisEditorWashington, DCJoe SudbayDeputy EditorWashington, DCChris RyanAssociate EditorParis, FranceRobert ArenaContributing EditorBaltimore, MarylandJacki SchechnerContributing EditorWashington, DCAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Readi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/07/reading-tea-leaves-on-su...
4 of 57/23/09 3:17 AM
© 2009 - John Aravosis | Design maintenance by Jason RosenbaumSend me your tips: americablog@starpower.netAMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Readi...http://www.americablog.com/2005/07/reading-tea-leaves-on-su...
5 of 57/23/09 3:17 AM