成人X站

DAVE ROSS

Former WA AG McKenna cherished arguing cases before Justice Ginsburg

Sep 26, 2020, 7:47 AM

Ginsburg...

Members of the public pay respects to Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as her flag-draped casket rests on the Lincoln catafalque on the west front of the U.S. Supreme Court Sept. 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. Ginsburg died Sept. 18 at the age of 87 after a long battle against cancer. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

When he was serving in the position, former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna argued several cases before Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He joined Seattle’s Morning News to discuss his respect for her thoughtfulness and the time she called out an opposing counsel.

鈥淚 would say that she is the least intimidating of the justices I appeared before because she speaks very softly, she’s diminutive in stature, she was very polite with her questions. I would contrast her to her best friend in the court, Justice Scalia, who was very intimidating. I once said that when he leans over — you’re only about 10 feet away from the justices — when he leans over and bears down on you, I thought I was going to burst into flame,鈥 McKenna joked.

鈥淚 just had the greatest respect for [Ginsburg] because she not only really mastered the laws, as they all do 鈥 but she was also a master of the record in the case, the facts,鈥 he added.

WA Supreme Court incumbent seeks to recognize bias in decision making

McKenna recalled a particular experience in which his opposing counsel didn鈥檛 quite know his stuff, and Ginsburg called him out on it.

鈥淚n my third argument, my opposing counsel was up delivering his argument, and Justice Ginsburg asked him a question about the underlying facts in the case,” McKenna recalled. “He evidently didn’t know the answer because he made one up 鈥 He just guessed, I鈥檒l put it kindly.”

Former WA Attorney General assesses fallout of RBG鈥檚 vacant Supreme Court seat

鈥淪o she opens what’s called the appendix, which is the record in the case,” McKenna said. “She goes to the exact page, points to the sentence, and reads it out loud, contradicting what he just said. In other words, she knew what the answer was before she asked the question, and he made the mistake of guessing when he didn’t know the answer, and she just destroyed him. I just was so impressed by her amazing recall, her memory, not just of the law, but of the underlying factual record in the case.鈥

Of course, McKenna couldn’t help but admire her for a self-serving reason as well.

鈥淚 also have to admit that I have a soft spot for her because she voted my way all three times,” he said. “But so did Chief Justice Roberts; she wasn鈥檛 the only one. There was no smarter, more thoughtful justice on the court when she served. There are a lot of them who are smart and thoughtful, but no one surpassed her, that’s for sure.鈥

Listen to Seattle鈥檚 Morning News weekday mornings from 5 鈥 9 a.m. on 成人X站 Radio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on 成人X站 Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • to 成人X站 Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

Image: From left, Chris Sullivan, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien stand together in the 成人X站 Newsradi...

MyNorthwest Staff

Dave and Colleen’s final ‘SMN:’ 成人X站 colleagues, politicians say their goodbyes

"Seattle's Morning News" on 成人X站 Newsradio will soon have a new sound. On Thursday, Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien will host their last show together after a decade of co-hosting.

7 months ago

Classical literature on bookshelves. (Photo by Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images)...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross as you’ve never heard him before: ‘I like fat books and I can’t deny’

"This song, inspired by one of my first interviews when I started my talk show, which was Sir Mix-A-Lot," Dave Ross said.

7 months ago

national debt...

Dave Ross

‘Don’t cut a cent:’ Dave Ross on why the national debt never gets under control

The national debt now exceeds $36 trillion, and every president says it has to be under control. And yet, it never is.

7 months ago

voters hormone...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters weren鈥檛 just voting for change, they were voting for a hormone

The more I read the post-election analysis, the more I鈥檓 convinced voters weren鈥檛 just voting for a change 鈥 they were voting for a hormone.

8 months ago

ross o'brien - Seattle's Morning News...

Frank Sumrall

Dave Ross, Colleen O’Brien departing after co-hosting ‘Seattle’s Morning News’ for a decade

Dave Ross and Colleen O'Brien, the co-hosts of "Seattle's Morning News" on 成人X站 Newsradio are both leaving the show.

8 months ago

election day...

Dave Ross

Dave Ross: Election Day and Decision Day are two separate things

Tomorrow is Election Day 鈥 that鈥檚 what the calendar says. But there are two problems with the term "Election Day."

8 months ago

Former WA AG McKenna cherished arguing cases before Justice Ginsburg