['Changed the conversation' But that doesn't mean his contribution at the court hasn't been historically significant.] Someone can have a huge effect on shaping our constitutional jurisprudence even if on some of the 'big cases' they are on the losing side, ... Chief Justice Rehnquist changed the conversation. He brought back to the table certain ideas about limited government, federalism, and texturalism. |
[But that doesn't mean his contribution at the court hasn't been historically significant.] Someone can have a huge effect on shaping our constitutional jurisprudence even if on some of the 'big cases' they are on the losing side, ... Chief Justice Rehnquist changed the conversation. He brought back to the table certain ideas about limited government, federalism, and texturalism. |
[The current president] wanted to get somebody in whom he had confidence, ... Whatever she becomes on the bench, the president should know. |
A lot of the work these judges do, religion doesn't dictate the answer to it. Faith doesn't tell us what this antitrust statute means. It doesn't tell us how judges should go about interpreting antitrust action, |
And if it comes to a point where he says, 'I can't do the job,' then I think he'll just quit. But we don't know if he's at that point yet. |
Before Chief Justice Rehnquist, it really was like nine scorpions in a bottle. |
Even if the president wasn't up to it in alligators and his approval rating was 90 percent, John Roberts simply is the best guy for the chief justice's job. I think the thought of having John Roberts join him on the court kept the chief going despite his cancer. I think he's probably smiling about it now. |
He doesn't operate that way, |
He loves the court, ... So he must have felt, 'If I can stay on the job with a reasonable expectation I can maintain my health, then why not.' |
He seems to accept that religion has a place in the public square. |
He was a follower. He got tricked easily. |
He was fabulous, ... It was kind of like, when the word got out that Roberts was arguing, people would drop what they were doing and go watch because it was going to watch a real craftsman. |
He'll be much more likely to use crisp, technical, very careful legal analysis, |
he's not going to be a pushover or a shrinking violet. |
He's not pacing the floor, ruminating on his future. He's focused on doing the court's business, making sure the other justices do their business. |