By John McCormick and Jeff Coen
Virtually every Wednesday evening, Diane Wood leaves one courthouse and travels a few blocks to another for a two-hour rehearsal with the Chicago Bar Association Symphony, an ensemble where she has played the oboe and English horn for roughly two decades.
Like virtually every aspect of her life, from the multiple languages she speaks to the tomatoes she grows, the federal appeals court judge approaches her music from the perspective of a perfectionist.
"There are people who play notes and people who play music. She plays music," said Chicago lawyer and clarinetist John Vishneski, who has sat next to her throughout her symphony tenure. "She understands what she is playing."
Wood, a judge on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, is believed to be a finalist to succeed retiring Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court. Just days ago, she had a face-to-face interview in Washington with President Barack Obama, a former colleague at the University of Chicago Law School.
Those who know Wood well describe her as exceedingly driven and pragmatic, qualities often also used to describe Obama. But unlike the president, she is fluent in more than one language, speaking very good French, strong German and some Russian.
Read the rest of the profile of Judge Diane Wood in Sunday's Chicago Tribune.
Comments
Buried in the article is a mention of Wood's critics: "Wood has drawn criticism...."
But the authors don't bother to talk to the unnamed "critics." They only talk to people (mostly Obama campaign contributors) who praise Wood.
Wouldn't it be nice if the Tribune, for once, gave voice to both sides? A heretical thought, I concede....
Posted by: Speaking Truth to Power | May 24, 2009 2:40 PM
Long ago, what was it that little Danish boy observed?
"The Emperor doesn't have any clothes"?
Compare the publications of this or indeed any of the women judicial names who've been floated, with their male counterparts.
E.g., Judge Posner.
Or, one of the non-judicial male names,
Cass Sunstein.
Just compare their publications with those of the female candidates.....
Tell me what you see.....
Be honest............
Be brutally frank..........
Sonia.....?
Elena.....?
Where's the beef?
Posted by: Milton Friedman | May 25, 2009 9:07 AM