Page 17 - Sidney Thomas News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

Roberts, alito, justice thomas, they seem determined to fill out a lifetime of service on this court. i think what we're going to see, probably, is an intellectually vigorous court with the addition of elena kagan if she gets through the confirmation process. and indications are in the end she probably will. what's interesting to me, chuck, is the mix we now see. not just in terms of gender by the ideological mix that goes on there. curiously enough there's no protestant on the court. there's a lot of talk -- >> can i stop you there. it's interesting. >> i don't think -- >> it doesn't make a b...

We'll hearing during the confirmation hearings. >> mark, you mentioned something very interesting as it concerned harvard and don't ask, don't tell. and gay rights has been on the president's agenda, he's been speaking about it and criticized by gay rights advocates for not acting quickly enough. this, too, will be part of the process and no doubt will come up as well. >> and what republicans were saying to me tonight regarding her opposition to military recruiting on the campus of harvard back when she was the dean of the harvard law school because of the don't ask, don't tell policy is what ...

Interesting court. >> tom brokaw, who is head of the nbc chapter of the water buffalos. thanks very much. also joining me now, i've got tom goldstein. he's got must read for judicial junkies these days. you've been on top of this process. you've seen it as elena kagan's to lose the whole time. very quickly, was there any point in time where you thought, boy, she may actually not be the nominee? >> i really did. there was a time when the administration was looking at people both to her left and to her right. judge garland here in d.c. and the more liberal judge in california sidney thomas and i...

elena kagan going to be presented? >> it is a challenge. she has worked in the political arena. she worked for joe biden at the senate judiciary committee. >> work, work, work, resume, resume, resume. we haven't talked about the personal story. >> you can argue you don't want the average american to be on the supreme court. you want a powerhouse intellect. the fact she had many exchanges with students, you can attest onthat. they will probably bring in people from her professorial years and the people she clerked with justice marshall. he was her mentor and she said was the greatest ...

One of the longest lasting decisions any president can make. they call it his longest lasting legacy. that's baecause the decisions o the supreme court touch american lives for years, possibly for decades after president obama leaves office. this is a very big deal and there is a lot at stake here. >> yeah. it's a title and appointment for a lifetime and that justice gets to keep the job as long as they see fit or want to. so, kate, who are the top candidates? >> reporter: exactly. there are -- of course there can always be a surprise. we always want to say that first. but the leading candidat...