Sorry for the short diary, my point is pretty simple: why aren't we looking for exceptional state legislators to be candidates for SCOTUS?
There are many many jewels of public figures to be found across the United States in state houses and state senates. Where else can the mettle of a public figure be pushed and pressured for years with little support to hide flaws of character or reasoning? These appellate court judges are surrounded by the brightest clerks in the country, beholden to nobody but peers and the weak threat of impeachment from congress (if even Bybee can't be even be made to sweat impeachment why would any other judge consider congress?)
more after the break
These state legislators run their offices with minimal budgets, write laws themselves, read laws themselves, argue laws themselves. They make political statements without big budget polling, they are on the ground floor: the progressive ones fight hostile majorities for a decade or more understand law government and its effect on peoples better then anyone else in america. They are exactly who we need on the SCOTUS. AND the fact that they don't know they even had a chance at becoming a SCOTUS judge makes them even better for it. They are real public servants. Let's consider them.
I suggest focus on State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte. We'll miss her down her because she's been amazing. She fights the progressive fight in a senate dominated by crazy republicans without ranker (she has another senator playing bad cop) and slowly and consistently pushes for the best. She'd be a great governor but SCOTUS is important. We're willing to give you our shining star. :)
Last Point- she is not perfect, especially if you want a perfect warren interpretation of the law but I believe that the SCOTUS is the third political leg of the constitution- its job is to politically check abuses of power by the other branches. Legal robots aren't how we protect against tyranny of the executive or legislative branch.
Another last point on State Legislators: these are impressive people campaigns with comparatively tiny staffs to congressional candidates If I wasn't trying to recruit a young woman I’d suggest Ernie Chambers of Nebraska, he's old but in his younger years he'd make a fine candidate. If President Obama was to consider a state legislator that would give a boost to the importance state houses. Having great people in state houses is vitally important.
Thanks for your time.