Former Scalia Clerk: 'It's A Great Loss For The Country'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Ed Whelan, President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, reflected on his time working as a Clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, praising his work ethic and predicting a political fight over his successor.
During an interview with Dom Giordano on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, Whelan said Scalia's wit and style will have a lasting impact on the American legal system.
"Justice Scalia was distinctive in his ability to write and argue very powerfully and [had] very memorable rhetoric in phrases that distilled exactly what he meant and that offered insight into his legal view. It's a great loss for the country. There's some consolation in the fact that he blazed a trail that so many others are following. There will not be another Scalia, but there are plenty of folks have been so deeply influenced and shaped by him. Many of them are on the federal courts now. Many others will be."
He stated he cherished his time working with the Justice.
"He was a wonderful boss. Very demanding. He insisted on the highest standards. We had to get things right and spell out the reasoning in a clear and compelling way. It was wonderful to see how he would take the clerk's draft and refashion it so that it was distinctively his own. He was a joy to be around."
Whelan does not see President Obama choosing a nominee to replace Scalia with a candidate of similar perspective.
"It's going to be a political battle here. The White House will decide whether it tries to just play it for politics or whether it offers someone, a so-called moderate. Any Democratic moderate is, at best, a lefty who has not much of a clear public record. There's no chance that President Obama will pick anyone who is remotely acceptable."