California's highest court is about to get a little less conservative. And most likely sooner rather than later.
Several people familiar with the California Supreme Court and state government said Friday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger isn't about to provoke a partisan battle by replacing Justice Janice Rogers Brown -- confirmed last week to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals -- with anyone who remotely shares her far-right views.
Expect, they said, that Schwarzenegger will pick a moderate Republican who plays well with others and doesn't rile critics on either side of the political spectrum.
"That's essentially his philosophy," one well-placed observer, who requested anonymity, said. "He does have a strong business and Chamber of Commerce bent, and I think you can look to that in a candidate. And in terms of criminal decisions, he'll pick a moderate."
This observer and two others, who also want to remain anonymous, go further by predicting that Brown will choose to take the oath of office for her new Washington, D.C., post quickly -- perhaps leaving the Supreme Court within the week.
Details here from The Recorder via Law.com. (hat tip to How Appealing)