A brilliant appellate court judge, widely recognized for his legal scholarship, is nominated to fill the second vacancy on the United States Supreme Court. He is nominated by an anti-abortion Republican president, who pledged only to appoint conservative, “strict constructionist” judges, who would interpret—not legislate—from the bench. Rather than admit that they oppose him on ideological or philosophical grounds, special interest groups and liberal Democrats instead choose the low road. Lamenting that they had allowed the President’s nominee for chief justice to sail through a confirmation with little controversy, this time they have decided to engage in a smear campaign....