Professor Oakley Comments on Supreme Court for KCRA

Professor John Oakley commented on the announcement of the retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter and the prospects for his replacement for a news story televised on KCRA-3 May 1. 

Professor Oakley emphasized that President Obama, as a former professor of Constitutional Law, would no doubt personally be involved in evaluating the writings of prospective candidates to replace Justice Souter. At the top of his list were Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the Second Circuit, Solicitor General Elena Kagan (formerly Dean of the Harvard Law School), and Judge Diane Wood of the Seventh Circuit.  Professor Oakley thought that it would be important to President Obama that the membership of the Court should be more inclusive of segments of society that have experienced marginalization.

Professor Oakley, a member of the King Hall faculty since 1975, is an expert on civil procedure, constitutional law, and federal jurisdiction.