The New Chief

As usual, SCOTUSblog has the best early commentary on the confirmation of the new Supremes. Especially instructive is this post on the tactics behind the swift decision to appoint Roberts Chief. Lots to contemplate.

The Roberts nomination has Liberal groups up in arms down South but, absent any as-yet-undiscovered silver bullet, this will almost certainly pass. Sad as it is to concede, this fight was really lost last November. Given those stakes, I wonder if an argument for mandatory retirement will ever get off the ground - considering Roberts could very well sit at the head of the Court for 30-40 years. Needless to say, his first few decisions will be fascinating to read.

The focus will soon swing significantly toward the new nominee - and the framing wars have begun in earnest. At this point, my money's on Justice Edith Clement.