Reply #193: This is one of the silliest ideas I've ever heard

[COLGATE4]

A Supreme Court Justice doesn't need to know/understand law, so long as (s)he has law clerks. Incredible! This demonstrates an underlying anti intellectualism that normally characterizes the extreme Repukes. By this logic, anybody can be a judge/justice.

What the writer fails to understand is that law is like any other profession which by definition means having the intellectual ability to understand and act on situations for which there is no clearly established outcome. While it's true that a Justice has law clerks, this does not negate the fact that (s)he must understand the legal arguments presented by both sides, and be able to come to a ruling which is consistent with case law, precedent and often statute. There is no substitute for professional legal training in order to be able to do that job - merely having a 'good heart' or being intelligent won't cut it. To acquire the background necessary to effectively carry out the job there is simply no substitute for formal legal training, and hopefully lots of experience. This above all else is why there has never been a Justice of the Supreme Court that has not been an attorney.