On Wednesday, one of the GOP’s happy warriors, Arizona governor Doug Ducey, announced a notable first appointment to the Supreme Court of Arizona. Ducey has appointed Clint Bolick, an independent, to the court.
In a statement, Ducey’s office praised Bolick’s experience and qualifications, from serving as vice president for litigation at the Goldwater Institute since 2007, to his former services as vice president and director of litigation for the Institute for Justice and attorney for the United States Department of Justice.
The statement also praises Bolick’s devotion to “advancing economic liberty, expanding educational choice, promoting freedom of speech and expression, and the fulfillment of the American Dream for individuals and small businesses.”
As Jonathan Adler writes at the Volokh Conspiracy, the most notable part about Ducey’s appointment is that “Bolick is much closer to Randy Barnett than to Robert Bork.”
Professor Randy E. Barnett is a proponent of a legal theory often referred to as “judicial engagement.” Barnett also had high praise for Bolick, in a statement to The Weekly Standard.
Barnett joked on Twitter than Bolick will be competition for Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett, who is also a well-liked judge and proponent of judicial engagement.
Willett also spoke glowingly of Bolick. In a statement to The Weekly Standard, he said, “Clint is a dear, longtime friend, and he’ll be a magnificent Justice.”
Evan Bernick, Assistant Director of The Institute for Justice’s Center for Judicial Engagement, told The Weekly Standard, “We’re thrilled that our friend, former colleague and IJ co-founder has been chosen to serve on Arizona’s highest court. This is a great day for liberty and constitutionally limited government in the Grand Canyon State.”
Doug Ducey, Gov of Arizona, today appointed Clint Bolick to the Arizona Supreme Court.
For the moment all is right with the world.— Grover Norquist (@GroverNorquist) January 6, 2016
