Justice David Souter's replacement will be a push for the interminable battle between conservatives and liberals on the Supreme Court. In the same way that Roberts, a dependable conservative vote, replaced Rehnquist, a dependable conservative vote, Souter, a dependable liberal vote, will certainly be replaced by another dependable liberal vote. In that sense, whoever President Obama selects as the new Justice will be fairly inconsequential and an insignificant story.
Not so insignificant is the resignation of 10th Circuit Judge Michael McConnell. This significant jurist and Constitutional Law scholar is stepping down to head the Stanford Constitutional Law Center. His professed reason is that his first love is teaching. You also have to wonder if the election of President Obama scuttled McConnell's - a Bush appointee - Supreme Court aspirations.
My question to you, dear reader: Would you give up lifetime appointment as a Circuit Court Judge to take a professorship at one of the top 3 law schools in America?
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