Good riddance

The NYT and other sources report this afternoon that

Judge J. Michael Luttig, a leading conservative theorist on the federal bench who had been a regular on President Bush's short list for the Supreme Court, said Wednesday that he was resigning . . . [to become] senior vice president and general counsel of the Boeing Company, based in Chicago.

NathanNewman at DKos pointed out three cases in 1997-98, in which Luttig ruled on cases involving Boeing-- in favor of Boeing, naturally. Although he is careful not to claim any malfeasance on Luttig's part, NN does say:

Judgeships should be for life. Any expectation by a judge that they will leave for private practice means that any of their decisions are suspect as currying favor for a future job offer.

I don't know enough about judicial ethics to be sure about these things, although justices like Antonin Scalia seem to set a pretty low bar (a semi-intentional pun). But we now know where Luttig's bread is buttered, and at least he is now directly employed by the interests he has probably been serving right along. (And NPR estimated a 10-fold pay increase.)

I'd be relieved that this seems to mean he is out of the pool for the Supreme Court, but The Decider might just find Luttig's newfound corporate connection to be some sort of valuable real-world experience! In the meantime, welcome to Chicago, Mr. Luttig; glad to have you out of the judiciary.