University of Maryland Experts: Replacing Justice Souter.

(From AScribe)

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- "Perhaps the most interesting dynamic emergent from the impending resignation of Justice David Souter is the fact that it creates a vacancy so early in President Barack Obama's term," says University of Maryland political communication expert Trevor Parry-Giles, who has written extensively about the political side of supreme court nominations. "The most recent incidents of such an early vacancy both resulted in dramatic and significant appointments - Ruth Bader Ginsburg's appointment in 1993 and Sandra Day O'Connor's in 1981."

Parry-Giles wrote "The Character of Justice: Rhetoric, Law, and Politics in the Supreme Court Confirmation Process" (2006), which has been honored with the Diamond Anniversary Book Award, National Communication Association (2007) and The Kohrs-Campbell Prize in Rhetorical Criticism (2007).

Parry-Giles can comment on both the historical, political and rhetorical considerations.

"Nominations to the Court at such an early point in a presidential term are a prized opportunity for the appointing president to make a statement, to find a dramatic or particularly compelling nominee for the Court that shakes things up, either ideologically or in terms of enhanced diversity in the Court's membership," Parry-Giles adds. "Given his appointment record thus far, look for President Obama to find a nominee who makes just such a statement. Of course, the other dynamic at work in the Obama nominations to either Cabinet or ambassadorial posts is the lurking problem in a nominee's record - unpaid taxes, etc. The vetting process for a potential Court nominee will need to be rigorous and exacting - the Obama administration will want no surprises as the confirmation process unfolds."

Other UM experts are highlighted alphabetically below.

Contact information is provided below. Feel free to contact the experts directly. Or contact University of Maryland Communications: 301-405-4622; 301-257-0073 (after hours).