With the confirmation of Roberts a foregone conclusion, this blogger checked the online odds for hints of who the next nominee might be.

Tradesports is offering trading on the issue, though no clear favorites have emerged. Currently, Karen Williams is leading with bidding at 10.1 (each winning share pays off at 100, so that's still about 10-1 odds), followed by Harriet Miers at 8.7, Edith Jones and Priscilla Owen at 7.2, Al Gonzalez at 5.8, and Janice Rogers Brown and Edith Brown Clement at 5.1. No other prospects are currently trading above 5. So if you have an early lead on who might receive the nomination you could earn yourself a payoff of at least 10-1 and possibly over 20-1.

In just a few minutes, I'll be liveblogging from the HLS FedSoc debate on eminent domain after Kelo. Check the comments section for updates.

In the recent landmark case of Kelo v. New London, the Supreme Court held that the Constitution permits the government to take homes and businesses and hand them over to private developers. Join us for an exciting debate about the Kelo decision and the future of private property rights and eminent domain between two attorneys who helped litigate this case.

The HLS Federalist Society presents:

Dude, Where's My House? Private Property Rights & Eminent Domain after Kelo v. New London

A debate between:

Dana Berliner, Institute for Justice & attorney for Susette Kelo and co-plaintiffs, and

Dan Krisch, Horton, Shields & Knox & attorney for New London Development Corp.

Wednesday, September 28
7:30pm
Langdell Hall, South Classroom

Update:

I'm looking forward to seeing Dana tear this guy apart, especially after NLDC's recent abusive shenanigans were recently reined in by Connecticut's governor.

This also comes in the aftermath of remarks by Kelo author Justice Stevens, who called abusive eminent domain policies such as those implemented in Connecticut "unwise" and said the policy was one that "I would have opposed if I were a legislator." Justice Stevens elaborated, "My own view is that the free play of market forces is more likely to produce acceptable results in the long run than the best-intentioned plans of public officials." So at least he's with us on public policy, even if his understanding of "public use" somehow includes forcible transfers of property from one private party to another.