When Texan Harriet Miers dropped out as nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, it meant a step back for more than the court’s gender diversity. Nominee Samuel Alito would join Justice Antonin Scalia as the second New Jerseyan on the court. With Texas-born Justice Sandra Day O’Connor out, the court also would have five justices originally from the Northeast, two from California and only Justices John Paul Stevens (Illinois) and Clarence Thomas (Georgia, Missouri) to represent all of flyover country. It’s too early to speculate on when 85-year-old Stevens might leave the court, but it’s not too early to hope his successor won’t be yet another coaster.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
8 Comments
I suspect that the coasts are well represented because most of the “great” law schools are on the coasts..plus the east coast is closer to the centers of economic and political power. In all likelihood appointees and nominees will almost all have attended the same few law schools regardless of their geographic origin…Maybe the law school a person attended is more indicative of ‘diversity of opinion’ than is geographical origin, sex, color, or religion.
Since when has the SCOTUS ever been about representing the people?
A step backward in gender diversity Rhonda? Do we really need to discuss how the quality of an individual is more important than (and not determined by) their gender?
Some days Rhonda I think the entertainment section misses you.
For the love of GOD! Geographical diversity? How many blue eyed Supreme Court justices are there? Don’t mock this idea or I’ll SUE you for hurting my feelings!
Joe Blow, *Geographicial Deversity*… Just remember that catchphrase when Leftist try to make the case to end the Electorial College.
Looking at the ‘leaders’ Kansas has produced lately, I don’t believe I want a justice from Kansas.
Well, Joe, I agree with you on this one. BUT that’s the entire justification for the electoral college–so that the president is represented by a broader geographic constitutency.
If you ridicule SCOTUS for not having “geographic diversity,” you have to ridicule the electoral college for the same reason.
And it was the electoral college, remember, that gave us George WAR Bush in 2000 . . .
Galahad I’m for the Electorial College. But it looks like the Clinton Appointees are lacking the geographical diversity. ;)
What “geographic diversity?” Aren’t they all Americans?