Via the NYT: Specter Suggests a Chief Justice: O’Connor

Senator Arlen Specter, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, suggested on Sunday that President Bush could name Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who is retiring from the Supreme Court, to the position of chief justice if it opens up.
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“I think it would be very tempting if the president said to Justice O’Connor, ‘You could help the country now,’ ” Mr. Specter, Republican of Pennsylvania and a pivotal player in any confirmation hearings, said in an interview on the CBS program “Face the Nation.” “She has received so much adulation that a confirmation proceeding would be more like a coronation, and she might be willing to stay on for a year or so.”

Huh? Even setting aside any issues of ideology or judicial philosophy, why in the world would any President in his right mind appoint a Chief Justice who would only serve a year or so? This is an opportunity for the President to lay down a multi-decade marker on history, and Specter thinks that he might appoint O’Connor?

Methinks not.

Ann Althouse gets it right when she entitles her post on the subject “Spector speculates–zanily.”

Indeed.

4 Responses to “Chief Justice O’Connor?”

1. Outside The Beltway Says:
   July 11th, 2005 at 10:52 am

   Specter Suggests a Chief Justice: O’Connor

   Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Arlen Specter floats a rather bizarre selection to replace Chief Justice William Rehnquist if, as expected, he retires this week: Outgoing Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.

   Specter Suggests a Chief Justic…

2. Sailor in the Desert Says:
   July 11th, 2005 at 2:21 pm

   Specter is rather bizarre as it is. I cannot see O’Conner staying on, even as Chief Justice. The better choices are Scalia or Thomas.

3. bLogicus Says:
   July 12th, 2005 at 9:10 am

   Specter Suggests O’Connor for Chief Justice

   Those who opposed Senator Arlen Specter’s appointment as chairman of the Judiciary Committee have yet another reason to say, “I told you so.” Specter suggested that President Bush should name Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who is retiring from the Su…

4. Pros and Cons » This Is Why I Think There Should Be An Intelligence Test Requirement For Senate Candidates Says:
   July 15th, 2005 at 8:20 am

   [...] of representation they get. Steven Taylor has already addressed this possibility over at PoliBlog. Still, this is more than ridiculous, even for the feminist lobby (of which Spectre is, apparently, [...]