The Circle is Now Complete
From Volokh
I guess it is right that Roberts replaces O'Connor then. I still think that he's going to be named Chief when Rehnquist retires. Well, he will as long as he is the Justice that the president hopes that he is. If he is a huge failure, someone from outside the Court will be named Chief. I think Bush wants to appoint a young Chief, someone who will be on the Court for a long time. That is part of the reason why Scalia or Thomas won't be promoted. They both have more years in them but the name on the Court has a symbolic weight to it. And I think Roberts is the kind of guy that Bush wants as his legacy to the Court, eventually as Chief.
I guess it is right that Roberts replaces O'Connor then. I still think that he's going to be named Chief when Rehnquist retires. Well, he will as long as he is the Justice that the president hopes that he is. If he is a huge failure, someone from outside the Court will be named Chief. I think Bush wants to appoint a young Chief, someone who will be on the Court for a long time. That is part of the reason why Scalia or Thomas won't be promoted. They both have more years in them but the name on the Court has a symbolic weight to it. And I think Roberts is the kind of guy that Bush wants as his legacy to the Court, eventually as Chief.
