Some research on the "reported" finalists for Supreme Court
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/07/05/trump-completes-interviews-supreme-court-candidates.html
Fox News is told that Trump has interviewed six candidates:
Appeals court judges —
The interviews comprised seven conversations – Trump talked to one candidate twice.
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Raymond Kethledge of Michigan, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
IMHO - interesting rulings, top notch caliber
— born 1966;
— He attended the University of Michigan, graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree
in history. He then attended the University of Michigan Law School, graduating magna cum laude (and second in his class) with a Juris Doctor in 1993.
— clerked for Sixth Circuit Judge Ralph B. Guy Jr and Anthony Kennedy
— judiciary counsel to Michigan Senator Spencer Abraham
— The court held, based on Bennett v. Spear, that the citizen-suit provision does not permit a citizen to sue a state for its failure to perform a regulatory duty. Kethledge wrote that, “[i]n construing a statute, the words matter.”
—– To resolve the case, Kethledge applied the relevant Supreme Court precedent. In re Winship, the SC held: “[T]he Due Process Clause protects the accused against conviction except upon proof beyond a reasonable doubt of every fact necessary to constitute the crime with which he is charged.”
– Judge Kethledge explained that the Commission had the authority to fix criminal penalties only because Congress had given the Commission that authority.
— The Sixth Circuit affirmed. In an opinion by Judge Kethledge, the court held that a crime’s penalty is normally the one on the books when the crime was committed, and Hughes could not point to anything that overcame that presumption.
– Judge Kethledge wrote; instead, “a decree may remain in force only as long as it continues to remedy a violation of federal law.”
— Kethledge teaches a course at the University of Michigan Law School called "Fundamentals of Appellate Practice," which focuses on the elements of good legal writing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnU3ZdzcwNo
2015 – he is an acting judge in moot court competition with Justice Kagan,
discussing use of football player's likeness in a video game
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Brett Kavanaugh of Maryland, U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
IMHO – NO, affiliated with G.W.Bush decision, and Kenneth Starr, conflict of interest
— born 1965:
— Staff Secretary in the Exec Office of Pres GW Bush
— "legal staff of George W. Bush" traveled with him
– A protégé of Kenneth Starr, Kavanaugh played a lead role in drafting the Starr report, which urged the impeachment of President Bill Clinton
— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXKX_whwVzs
from 2015 – "The Judge as Umpire" –
—— went to Georgetown "serve others"
—— "what happens at Georgetown Prep, stays at Georgetown Prep"
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Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
IMHO - potential conflicts of interest w/ husband's duties as a U.S. Attorney;
and prejudicial religious opinions (esp. in the eye of public opinion)
— born 1972; former Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School
— practicing Catholic and a member of People of Praise
— married to an Asst United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana
— has 7 children (can we assume she does not believe in family planning techniques?)
— has stated that members of the Senate Judiciary Committee misconstrued her writing
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