Bad Judgment

National Review Online ^ | OCTOBER 28, 2013 | John Fund

[richardb72]

It’s been over a quarter-century since Robert Bork’s nomination to the Supreme Court became a defining moment in the confirmation of federal judges. Since the distinguished judge and former Yale Law professor was “borked” by demagogic personal attacks and blocked from the Court, confirmation battles have grown uglier and more protracted.

John Lott, an economist who has written thought-provoking books on everything from gun control to the federal budget, says the pitched battles over court nominations are having real-world consequences. He argues that our federal courts are being intellectually degraded as politicians in both parties try to keep the brightest and most articulate lawyers from becoming judges.

“Everyone wants to keep the other side’s best and brightest off the field, so they often use the confirmation process to delay and kneecap them if they are nominated, which can often convince the most qualified people not to even want to be nominated,” . . . .

[rockrr]

“Everyone wants to keep the other side’s best and brightest off the field, so they often use the confirmation process to delay and kneecap them if they are nominated, which can often convince the most qualified people not to even want to be nominated"

ruth bader ginsberg, best & brightest?! The "wise latina" - best and brightest? And that other leftist fool - I can't even recall her name....best & brightest?. Hardly. Being a bitter partisan isn't what I would consider bright.

[Deagle]

Sorry, but the Supreme Court has succumbed to political correctness like the rest of the liberal society. Seems to me that the Liberals see the Constitution as an obsolete document written by old white conservative men with no foresight. To these liberals, this was just a gigantic mistake! Unfortunately, all branches of our Government seem to think the same.

[richardb72]

The point was that the smartest people aren’t being nominated and they aren’t being confirmed. The point was that the people getting on the courts these days aren’t as smart as judges used to be.

[oldbrowser]

ruth bader ginsberg, best & brightest?! The "wise latina" - best and brightest? And that other leftist fool - I can't even recall her name....best & brightest?. Hardly. Being a bitter partisan isn't what I would consider bright.

Beat me to it.

[SoConPubbie]

John Lott, an economist who has written thought-provoking books on everything from gun control to the federal budget, says the pitched battles over court nominations are having real-world consequences. He argues that our federal courts are being intellectually degraded as politicians in both parties try to keep the brightest and most articulate lawyers from becoming judges.

I hope I am reading this wrong, but it sounds like Lott is equivocating here.

There are no intellectual lawyers on the left, just those who have no values, principles and prefer Marxism, Statism, or Progressivism to constitutional governance and jurisprudence.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Intellect is a neutral resource. It does not equate to wisdom or righteousness.

[leprechaun9]

The BORKING Confirmation process was a creature of Brainiac Joe Biden, the VP of the United States who is being stored in the wood shed, during the present social get togethers in the Senate and the House!

[HiTech RedNeck]

I.e. it is possible to be brightly foolish. Nobody guaranteed that intellect cannot serve lies, only truths. It’s the very nature of cosmic (divinely permitted) choice.

[SoConPubbie]

Intellect is a neutral resource. It does not equate to wisdom or righteousness.

I would argue that you cannot disconnect wisdom from Intellect.

Is the individual who turns down an eternity in Heaven because they are selfish and would prefer to live their 90 or so years here on earth for themselves not lacking in intellect, and wisdom?

Logically, the two are connected.

In other words, intellect being the capacity, basically to learn, is it not true that when given facts, proof, and a path to Heaven that someone who willfully chooses Hell over Heaven is lacking the capacity to learn, even if it is a choice?

Another way to look at it is, sometimes people just choose to be stupid, to be ignorant, because it is easier.

[Gene Eric]

Intellect describes potential. Wisdom describes application. These two terms are not directly related.

[SoConPubbie]

Intellect describes potential. Wisdom describes application. These two terms are not directly related.

Then I stand corrected.

And I would also suggest that it's usage, intellect or intelligence, is highly mis-used, and over-rated by the left.

[Gene Eric]

There are numerous examples of individuals possessing great intellect demonstrating a serious lack of wisdom. There are also plenty of wise individuals not attributed with an average nor extraordinary intellect.

[Gene Eric]

Agreed. I consider it at least overrated, but certainly not inconsequential.

[Yo-Yo]

ruth bader ginsberg, best & brightest?! The "wise latina" - best and brightest? And that other leftist fool - I can't even recall her name....best & brightest?.

I believe you may not have fully appreciated the spirit of the article. It was Lot's premise that because of the confirmation process, the most qualified people don't even want to be nominated.

What was implied, therefore, is that those who do make it through the confirmation process are less than 'the best and brightest.' Your examples confirm that premise.

[DH]

I have a sign hanging on my office wall that states: Good judgement comes from experience...Experience comes from bad judgement.

Everyone needs to heed that statement, especially in today’s world.