Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

9-27-90 . . . David Souter, President [George Herbert Walker] Bush’s Supreme Court nominee, sailed through the Senate Judiciary Committee on a thirteen-to-one vote, which means he’ll receive a favorable recommendation from the committee. The lone dissenting vote belonged to Edward Kennedy [1932-2009] of Massachusetts, who claimed that Souter did not demonstrate a sufficient commitment to civil rights and the right to privacy. I’m not surprised by the ease with which Souter was approved; in fact, I expect the Senate to confirm him overwhelmingly next week. He said little to antagonize either liberals or conservatives. Perhaps that was his game plan: to speak in such generalities that his true views would not be known and could not be used against him. For my part, I’m optimistic that he’ll defend individual liberties from the ravages of majorities. Only time will tell whether this suspicion—hope, really—is confirmed.