[Republican Red]

According to NRO that Miers comment about Warren Burger was taken out of context!!!

http://bench.nationalreview.com/

Meir & Warren
[Kathryn Jean Lopez 10/07 08:04 AM]
This is what I'm told happened:

"Miers was asked about Justices she admired. She responded that she admired different Justices for different reasons, including Warren — interrupted by Senator Leahy — Burger for his administrative skills.

Reasonable people could ask whether Burger was a great administrator, but the comment is taken out of context by the Washington Post. Miers didn't express admiration for his jurisprudence."

[MadIvan]

"Miers was asked about Justices she admired. She responded that she admired different Justices for different reasons, including Warren — interrupted by Senator Leahy — Burger for his administrative skills.

That's weird, actually.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Upon further reading, I can sort of see why she might say that -

From Wikipedia

Overall Burger's was not a strong voice on the court. He often only wrote straightforward and uncontroversial opinions and avoided those in which the court was evenly split. Instead, he poured his energy into the other role of the Chief Justice, administering the nation's legal system. He initiated the National Institute for State Courts, which is now located in Williamsburg, Virginia, the Institute for Court Management, and National Institute of Corrections to provide professional training for judges, clerks, and prison guards. He initiated the annual State of the Judiciary speech given by the Chief Justice to the American Bar Association. Some detractors thought his emphasis on the mechanics of the judicial system trivialized the office of Chief Justice.

It may not be a good thing that she admires him - he spent more time on administration than actual law.

Regards, Ivan

[Mighty_Quinn]

Let me thank Anti-Guv and jeltz25 for correcting me on Burger's history. I'm not doubting you, but can you please provide a link so I can learn more.

MadIvan, thanks for the National Review On-Line mention. I totally missed that. But the poster says, "This is what I've been told..."

Two things: First, this confirms that Miers mentioned Burger. Second, why hasn't anyone with a name reported this story - either at the Post or at NRO? As far as I'm concerned, the NRO link is helpful, but simply raises more questions.

Lopez, the poster, has been pretty balanced - she is not pro-Miers! But how do we trust the anonymous sources who recounted this story to her?