It would be wrong to write off Justice Stevens as “just another liberal Justice on the Supreme Court” because he is one of the most creative, original voices to grace our bench in a generation. On hot-button social issues, yes, he tends to vote in ways that annoy social conservatives. But on less sexy kinds of cases, his keen intelligence and distinctive perspective on issues have been remarkably influential, persuasive, and often unpredictable.
When the man hires only one of the four law clerks he’s allotted, that suggests he’s winding down and getting ready to retire. Well, the man is pushing ninety years of age. And he’s certainly earned it. Taking guesses as to possible replacement nominees in 5.. 4.. 3.. 2..
I'm on the record as predicting Elena Kagan for nominee number two, but I'm still rooting for Wood to get the nod. On the other hand, if it is Kagan I go two for two on predictions.