FAIRBANK REPORT PREDICTS HIGH COURT NOMINEE

Shortly, President Bush will nominate a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Whilst the political machinations behind the selection of a Court nominee are as Byzantine as those behind the election of a Pope, seasoned tea-leaf readers can discern certain patterns.

Chief Justice Roberts's recent nomination proffers particularly valuable insight. In Mr. Roberts, we have a man who is young, talented, expert in the law and virtually unheard of in political circles.

Mr. Bush's political nominations offer additional insight. The President made history by nominating the first African-American Secretary of State (Colin Powell) as well as the first African-American National Security Advisor and the first African-American woman Secretary of State (Condee Rice).

The FAIRBANK REPORT, therefore, projects that Mr. Bush will nominate United States Attorney Debra Yang to the High Court. Ms. Yang was Superior Court judge in Los Angeles County until 2002 when the President chose her to become U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California. Like Mr. Roberts, Ms. Yang is young, talented, expert in the law and virtually unheard of in political circles. Like the nominations of Mr. Powell and Dr. Rice, Ms. Yang's nomination would be bold and historic. She would be the first Asian-American and the first woman of color to serve on the United States Supreme Court.

In light of Justice O'Connor's recent comments about the importance of having another woman justice on the Court and in light of admonishment from Democratic senators against controversial nominees, Ms. Yang makes an excellent and compelling choice.