Washington: Supreme Court

In its story on the possible retirement of David Souter from the U.S. Supreme Court, the New York Times ventures into heavy speculation on President Obama's first appointment.

No sources are listed but the reporters suggest that since Obama once praised former California Gov. Earl Warren's service on the Supreme Court that he might be looking at a politician rather than a legal expert.

"During the campaign, Mr. Obama spoke of his admiration of former Chief Justice Earl M. Warren, citing as a special virtue his practical political experience as a former governor of California. If Mr. Obama were to look to a political figure with a strong legal background, he could turn to an old friend, Deval Patrick, now the Massachusetts governor, Christine Gregoire, governor of Washington, or Jennifer M. Granholm, governor of Michigan."

Let the speculation begin.

That's what Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, told reporters at noon Thursday during her weekly news conference.

That would be a departure from years past, when an entire $70 billion two-year budget has been dumped on rank-and-file lawmakers, reporters, stateholders and lobbyist, then hurriedly voted on before most of us even understood it.

"This isn't like any other year," Brown said.

If this does, indeed, come to pass, I'd have to give credit to Democratic sympathizers who have been complaining about "shadow boxing" with rumored cuts. And I have to give Brown credit for taking some risks. Majority Democrats' job of writing a budget in the face of an $8 billion deficit (25 percent of state revenues) is going to be that much more difficult if stakeholders get early warning on how deep cuts will be for their particular programs.

The Washington state Supreme Court just rejected a challenge to the state’s supermajority requirement for passing taxes.

...and speaking of the state Supreme Court (see below on the main page), the Evergreen Freedom Foundation has started a blog dedicated to covering our state Supreme Court....