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Sandra Day O'Connor biographer says she would want 'regular order' on court vacancy
Arizona Republic
7:55 PM
September 18
Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's authorized biographer said she had wanted "regular order" on Merrick Garland's 2016 nomination and likely wouldn't want a rushed confirmation to the high court now.
Evan Thomas, the author of "First," a 2019 biography of O'Connor, said it's hard to say definitively what she would make of the rapidly unfolding political fight over replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday of pancreatic cancer.
"She wanted the process to go forward on voting on Merrick Garland," Thomas said. "Based on that, I think — this is my opinion now — I don't think she would feel right about ramming this thing through."
O'Connor made clear she didn't approve of Garland's nomination languishing for nearly a year in the Senate without a hearing, Thomas said.
"Justice O'Connor was a believer not just in the rules, but following customs. My guess is she would be offended at jamming this through," he said. "She liked orderly procedure. ... She doesn't like messes."
<snip>
Two of O'Connor's three sons had little to say about the new drama.
"There's really no official comment from the family," Brian O'Connor said. "There's nothing else we would want to want to say except God bless Justice Ginsburg. ... We live in a very polarized country. That's just one man's opinion."
Evan Thomas, the author of "First," a 2019 biography of O'Connor, said it's hard to say definitively what she would make of the rapidly unfolding political fight over replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday of pancreatic cancer.
"She wanted the process to go forward on voting on Merrick Garland," Thomas said. "Based on that, I think — this is my opinion now — I don't think she would feel right about ramming this thing through."
O'Connor made clear she didn't approve of Garland's nomination languishing for nearly a year in the Senate without a hearing, Thomas said.
"Justice O'Connor was a believer not just in the rules, but following customs. My guess is she would be offended at jamming this through," he said. "She liked orderly procedure. ... She doesn't like messes."
<snip>
Two of O'Connor's three sons had little to say about the new drama.
"There's really no official comment from the family," Brian O'Connor said. "There's nothing else we would want to want to say except God bless Justice Ginsburg. ... We live in a very polarized country. That's just one man's opinion."
Read more: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2020/09/18/sandra-day-oconnor-biographer-rushed-senate-justice-confirmation/5832956002/
Admittedly, the author is making a best guess, but it is interesting.
