Life Is Like a Box of DocumentsYou never know what you're going to get. In my case, I got Box
03, Appointee Clearances. Roberts was apparently in charge of reviewing appointments to various boards and commissions from a legal standpoint. The memoranda in the box concern various questions. Could a sitting judge be appointed to the Panama Canal Alternative Study Commission? Roberts determined a judge could indeed be appointed.
Some famous names pop up:
John Negroponte was appointed to the National Commission on Space. The Wikipedia entry indicates bitterness among the left towards Negroponte for his involvement with the Contras, but it also notes that his appointments as US ambassador to Iraq in 2004 and as the Director of National Intelligence in 2005 were overwhelmingly approved by the Senate.
Howard Baker.
Henry Kissinger.
Clare Booth Luce.
William French Smith.
A moderately interesting item appears on page 18-20. Roberts is asked whether a state employee may be appointed to the Advisory Committee on Trade Negotiations. Roberts replies that yes, he legally can, and arguably some government employee (whether state or federal) must be appointed to the committee. Roberts checked and discovered that historically the committee had been private sector only and the USTR (US Trade Representative?) preferred that it remain that way. He accordingly reports that the appointment can be made and arguably
must be made, but notes the policy issue with the USTR, and also that some states may have laws that bar their employees from being appointed to such boards.
Overall, I can't imagine anything in these papers being used against Judge Roberts.
Note: This is a
Hugh Hewitt project being organized by Generalissimo Duane aka
Radioblogger.
