Roberts For . . . CHIEF Justice?

With the passing of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, John Roberts has now had his nomination elevated to be his old mentor's successor. (Roberts clerked for Rehnquist.) Some may suggest he's too young and inexperienced, but, to be fair, he's actually four years older than John Marshall had been when President John Adams named him Chief Justice in 1801. Given the sense of fairness and openness Roberts has exhibited since being named to the Supreme Court in July, I am inclined to still give him the benefit of the doubt. We'll see what happens.

As for a new associate justice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor, it's possible that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales may be named, despite his checkered history with his novel interpretation of the Geneva Convention, or perhaps a woman will be named. But hopefully not Judge Priscilla Owen or Judge Janice Rogers Brown. (Remember them?) Bush shouldn't try to move the Court to the far right in the aftermath of a crisis in the Gulf Coast, with all of its socioeconomic baggage. Gonzales would have enough trouble getting through.