[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Redux

I dont see why federal bench experience should be a prerequisite, despite recent trends.

We've had some good or great justices w/o such experience:

Willam Rehnquist
Lewis Powell
Byron "Whizzer" White
Earl Warren (a politician, Gov of California)
William O Douglas
Felix Frankfurter
Louis Brandieis

By historical standards or at least in the view of many historians and judicial scholars, many of these guys were considered great justices (w/ Rehnquist being the least great of the bunch, IMO). Are Constitutional issues that much more complex now that federal bench experience should be required?

I would not mind at all if Obama looks outside the federal appeals courts.

Outside the Federal Appeals Court is fine, but political experience? Fuck that, I want them making their rulings based on constitutionality, not political appeal.