CONSERVATIVE LAWYERS SPEAK OUT ABOUT TRUMP | McConnell Still Top Dog | A Supreme Court Crossword
November 14, 2018
THE MAIN EVENT
|Thursday is the annual convention of the Federalist Society, but Adam Liptak with The New York Times says that as the group prepares to gather for the big event, more than a dozen prominent conservative lawyers have joined together to sound a note of caution about our president. Liptak reports on the group — called Checks and Balances — which was organized by GEORGE T. CONWAY (Kellyanne’s hubbie) and has been vocal about Trump’s consistent undermining of the rule of law. “There’s a perception out there that conservative lawyers have essentially sold their souls for judges and regulatory reform,” Mr. Conway said. “We just want to be a voice speaking out, and to encourage others to speak out.”
TOP DOG
|In the least surprising news of the day, SENATOR MITCH MCCONNELL was re-elected by his peers to continue serving as Majority Leader in the Senate. He’s been leader since 2007 and has wracked up an enormous amount of wins for the GOP — two of which are living large at the Supreme Court.
MORE OF THE SAME
|Tuesday, PRESIDENT TRUMP said he plans to replace BRETT KAVANAUGH’S empty seat on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals with another conservative lawyer, NEOMI RAO. Reuters reports, “By replacing Kavanaugh, Rao would not change the ideological balance of the appeals court, which has a majority of Democratic-appointed judges.”
MAKING SENSE OF IT ALL
|Andrew Coan and Toni Massaro opine in USA Today on MATTHEW WHITAKER’S Supreme Court positions, which they say are incoherent and could potentially lead to a constitutional crisis. “Most discussion of Whitaker’s appointment has focused on the risk that he will kneecap Special Counsel ROBERT MUELLER. But the threat Whitaker poses to the American constitutional order may run far deeper. The president should immediately withdraw his appointment.”
WHAT, LIKE IT'S HARD
|The Harvard Law Review dropped its Supreme Court issue which focuses on the high court’s 2017 term and includes a tribute to former justice ANTHONY KENNEDY. Also for you puzzle lovers out there… they also have a crossword for you. Hint: An answer to one of the clues is mentioned in this blurb. Another, is the hometown of yours truly. Happy puzzling!