[Update: 5:30 PM PST] ABC Radio news is saying it’s gonna be Roberts. 1/2 hour left to see for sure. Will live blog starting in about 15 min.

[Update: 3:10 PM PST] Hugh says it’s Luttig, ’cause he has shown up in DC with his wife and kids and is in his goin’-to-meeting clothes. Great, fun day! Heh.

[Update: 2 PM PST] Was just announced on ABCNews Radio that Justice Clement will “not” be the nominee . . . more when there’s more!

At 9 PM EST tonight President George Bush will announce his nominee to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connell. Early bets have been on Fifth Circuit Justice Edith (Joy) Clement, but the buzz is getting stronger about another “Edith”, another Fifth Circuit Justice, Edith Jones. Looking for some insight into her judicial philosophy I came across this report of the following event where Justice Jones made these statements, and others, at the Federalist Society of Harvard Law School in February of 2003:

“The integrity of law, its religious roots, its transcendent quality are disappearing. (…)

“The first 100 years of American lawyers were trained on Blackstone, who wrote that: ‘The law of nature . dictated by God himself . is binding . in all counties and at all times; no human laws are of any validity if contrary to this; and such of them as are valid derive all force and all their authority . from this original.’ The Framers created a government of limited power with this understanding of the rule of law – that it was dependent on transcendent religious obligation,” said Jones.
(…)
“This is not a prescription for intolerance or narrow sectarianism,” she continued, “for unalienable rights were given by God to all our fellow citizens. Having lost sight of the moral and religious foundations of the rule of law, we are vulnerable to the destruction of our freedom, our equality before the law and our self-respect. It is my fervent hope that this new century will experience a revival of the original understanding of the rule of law and its roots.
(…)
Judge Jones concluded with another thought from George Washington: “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness – these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.”

Sounds pretty good to this Okie! Would be hard to drift too far Left if you hold these beliefs. Gonna make the Moorites and Deaniacs go nuts! Considering that Justice Clement seems to many to be a bit “squishy” on the ol’ Conservitometer, see quotes and links at Michelle Malkin’s blog, maybe we should be thinking positive thoughts for GW to pick Justice Jones. Guess we don’t have long to wait before finding out. Film at 9! — 6 Pacific . . . (db)

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