Speedy Gonzales: Bush's fast-rising counsel - Alberto Gonzales

Bush would also be following what might be called the Cheney precedent. Bush evidently concluded that a man he could trust to vet his potential running mates was trustworthy enough to be his running mate. Will he reach the same conclusion about the man he's put in charge of vetting his potential Supreme Court nominees? And then, of course, there is the precedent of Gonzales himself: He's been Bush's counsel, and then his judicial nominee, before.

Gonzales is by no means a sure thing as a nominee. Bush might decide to go with someone with more judicial experience. And Gonzales has told reporters that he's not interested in joining the Court. But a lot of people still think he's going to be Bush's first Court nominee. The administration may have a legal dream team working for it, but conservatives have reason to be nervous.

COPYRIGHT 2001 National Review, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group