Leah Ward Sears' Court Chances Complicated By Clarence Thomas Bond

Washington Post:

One day in the early 1990s, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas telephoned Leah Ward Sears to introduce himself. She was a rising star in Georgia's legal community, a relatively liberal black woman on the state's conservative Supreme Court. Thomas had read about political attacks against Sears and called to say he didn't like it.

"It affected her that he would take the time to comfort her in that situation," said Bernard Taylor, an Atlanta lawyer and longtime friend of Sears, now chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court and a potential nominee to replace retiring U.S. Supreme Court Justice David H. Souter. "They're still friends."

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Ergon]

"relatively liberal lawyer"? Uh oh.

[JoAnnCr]

Love her.

President Obama is about bringing people together. Sear's relationship with Thomas may just make him listen a little better.

Do you think she would be persuaded by him more than he by her? Not a chance from the looks of her personality and resume.

I think we have a winner here.

[Peaceisnecessary]

I agree with other bloggers, anyone who is a friend of Thomas should not be considerate for the SC. He has done more damaged to Civil Rights and people of color than any other judge. The GOP chose a black man that dislikes himself and his race and does everything he can to go against any law that would improve the lives of people of color. He himself sexually harassed a black woman and even after that evidence was presented was still allowed to serve in the highest court. He is despicable.

[Golfer59]

Great point.

[jnutlfam2]

Agreed

[SEQUOIABISON]

We need to replace Souter with a Justice who dislikes Clarence Thomas and disagrees with him on just about everything, if Thomas and Scalia get another ally on the court we could eventually be heading for a Theocracy.

[mom2sons]

I vote for Michelle O! LOL

[HLL]

Any friend of Clarence Thomas is no friend of the Supreme Court and the United States. Pass.

[atomic]

Come on Obama ... do the right thing.

[atomic]

Out of the question ... the friendship thing is out .. there must be plenty of other possibilities without this connection coming into play ... Justice Thomas does not deserve to be on the court. If anyone there is a fraud it's he. She may be fit and capable but under the circumstances absolutely not.

[blukazoo]

If lived through his nomination hearings and she's still a friend of that pervert, I question her judgement. NO, not her.

[somsoc]

While I must question her choice in friends given what Thomas was willing to allow be done to Anita Hill and his denial and hiding of the later identified porn, I only have two questions for Judge Sears what were you thinking? and do you recall Anita Hill?

[Paulo1]

Hell, if we start making friendships a litmus test for appointment you won't have anyone to appoint at all !

I loath Clarence Thomas, the man is going to go down in history as the worst Supreme for his callous voting in lock step with Scalia (who at least does his own thinking) But I am not going to label anyone unfit because they happen to be civil to someone I would not be civil to.

I wonder what group is dredging this up to thrash Sears? Now that is the real story of interest.!

[BluePrideStephen]

Seat Anita Hill... She''d be able to stare down ol' Clarence and neutralize his every (republican party-determined) vote. She could switch to Pepsi and smile as the voting goes to 5-4, then to 6-3, and 7-2 by the end of Obama's first term.

More women, a first Hispanic, first Asian, first gay, oops, second.

[blukazoo]

What do you mean 2nd? If Thomas is Scalia's but.t boy...it counts for both of them.

[blueskybigstar]

She sounds absolutely splendid. If getting along with people you disagree with is important to Obama, then this would be a great choice. I'm sure Thomas does not want to go down in history the way he has appeared. If they are close friends, this provides extra interest in the decisions which the American public needs to have, and there is always that chance that she can change him.

[dwright]

If they are "phone friends" that is one thing, however if they are "friends" then I think it clearly shows bad "judgment' on her part and do not want her on the SC.

[blueskybigstar]

Sometimes when people are from your own small town, you can't turn your back. It would be different if they did not have that in common.

[atomic]

You are vary rational and well meaning ... however this is no time to take any chances. Especially when there must be many qualified persons without this weird connection to the worst judge on the court.

[blueskybigstar]

So, any connection to him must be weird?

[LeeCalif]

"We shout and scream and yell and get very little accomplished, but you can disagree very much with the next guy and still be friends and acquaintances," she said in a National Public Radio interview ......

Uh, no, I couldn't be friends with someone like Clarence Thomas, a sexual sc umbag.

[marignymitch]

Clarence Thomas has friends? Who knew?

[Actionmac]

AA friends and a female... Maybe Anita did deserve the treatment she received.

Nah, Obama should offer Anita to remind the public just how anti-independent woman the GOP is.