THURSDAY'S EDITORIAL

By T&D Staff

Judge Williams could be choice for high court

THE ISSUE: Justice O'Connor's successor

OUR OPINION: Orangeburg jurist has resume' that makes her a top choice

That 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Karen Williams of Orangeburg could be President Bush's choice for the U.S. Supreme Court is an exciting prospect for Orangeburg.

When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra O'Connor announced she would leave the court, Williams reportedly quickly became a name on the president's short list of replacements. Then came the nomination of Judge John Roberts, a move some found surprising in that Bush was thought to be seeking a female to replace O'Connor.

Now that Roberts is in line to become chief justice, there is belief again that Bush will nominate a woman to the high court. We reiterate our position again during this selection process: There is no better candidate than Williams.

At 54, she has served on the 4th Circuit court for 13 years. She made history as the first woman appointed to the court.

Williams is tied to a longtime Democratic family in Orangeburg County. As the daughter-in-law of the late Sen. Marshall B. Williams, she was recommended by the late Republican Sen. Strom Thurmond and nominated by the first President George Bush in an action that drew comparatively little disgruntlement even from the most ardent of Republicans.

She took over on the court in 1992 at age 40 and is today among the youngest potential candidates for the high court. Her record is not one of controversy on issues such as abortion and she is known as a independent thinker in the mold of Justice O'Connor.

Thurmond said of her, "She is capable, honorable and possesses all the qualities a judge needs. She is endorsed by independents, Democrats and Republicans, black people and white people."

Yet she comes from a court that is widely regarded as conservative. It was none other than Williams who wrote the opinion that failure to read a criminal suspect his "Miranda rights" before a confession is accepted does not nullify the confession's use in court. She reasoned that the voluntary confession law passed by Congress in 1968 but never enforced could not be ignored.

More recently, she authored the opinion that upheld Virginia's statute mandating that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited in schools. In doing so, she argued that the words "under God" in the pledge do not constitute state sanctioning of one religion.

Williams would follow nicely the example of Sandra O'Connor. Williams cited the Supreme Court justice at her investiture in 1992, taking up the challenge of the appointment making her a role model for young women.

"I wholeheartedly adopt her remarks," Judge Williams said then.

Williams's connection with a conservative court coupled with the prospect of broad bipartisan support could make the Orangeburg judge an ideal pick for an embattled president not in need of a battle over confirmation of O'Connor's successor.

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