Courtship

by Carsen Taite

  Addison leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. She silently ran through her conversation with Connie. Sure, they’d talked politics, but nothing about their conversation would have signaled that she was being considered for the high court. She certainly hadn’t brought up the subject.

  “I didn’t have a clue.” She studied Julia’s expression as it went from skeptical to accepting. “I don’t understand. She actually asked the White House to consider me? Wait, that’s the committee you’re working on, right? You’re on the search committee for the new Supreme Court justice?”

  “Yes. You really didn’t have a clue did you?” Julia visibly relaxed. “Well, in any event, I promised I would interview you.”

  Supreme Court. Addison let the words roll around in her head, savoring their promise. Enjoy the moment. It’s a pipe dream. She’d already picked up on the pro forma tone of Julia’s promise to interview her. “Garrett has already chosen someone hasn’t he? You’re just interviewing people to make the liberal camp happy, aren’t you? I bet you’ll be interviewing really conservative types too. Placate the extremes so you can meet in the middle. Am I right?”

  “You’re not entirely wrong. The president does have someone in mind, but he wants a thorough review process, and I’m in charge of that.”

  “Well, this is interesting. Bet you never thought we’d have a second date, let alone that it would be a job interview.” Addison winced internally, wishing she hadn’t referenced their attraction misfire, but Julia didn’t shy away.

  “I think that’s the other way around. Pretty sure it was you that didn’t like me very much after our first date.”

  “Not that simple. Besides, you were headed out of town. Dating seemed out of the question.”

  “So if I hadn’t been headed to a remote island, you would have stuck around? Maybe even gone on another date?”

  Addison studied Julia’s expression, but couldn’t quite tell if she was flirting or just curious. “Doesn’t really matter now, does it?”

  “I suppose not. Although there’s no reason we can’t conduct our interview over dinner.”

  Julia’s tone left no mistake. This whole thing was nothing more than an exercise for appearances. She’d had a moment to enjoy the possibility of being chosen, but now that the moment had passed, she could at least enjoy something else. She let a hint of suggestion invade her tone as she asked, “Will the rest of your committee be joining us?”

  “Do you want them to?”

  “Let’s start with just us and see how it goes.”

  “Exactly what I had in mind.”

  Addison was certain now that Julia was flirting.

  And she liked it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Julia wanted to smack her head on the table. She’d been in this conference room for hours, and she was ready to climb the walls. Her committee of hotshots had spent the morning studying everything they could learn about the woman who sat in front of them and, in her opinion, she was worse in person than on paper.

  The woman was Ninth Circuit Court Judge Sally Gibbons, aka Savior Sally. She’d been on the appeals court for ten years, enough time to author an enormous library of liberal opinions. She was pro-choice, pro-gay, pro-immigration. Sally had elevated liberalism to an art form, taking the most radical stance possible on every social issue that had been presented to the court. She was liberal even by Ninth Circuit standards, and that was saying something.

  Julia had promised Armstrong she would interview Gibbons, but that would be as far as it got. The Senate would have a field day with Gibbons as a nominee. She’d authored numerous opinions, which meant her left-wing bias was written in stone for all the world to see. Gibbons would probably love the chance to testify before the Senate and tell them a thing or two about the laws they’d created that she thought impinged on the rights of citizens. If she were nominated, chaos would ensue.

  Julia leaned back in her chair and let the rest of the team continue with their slate of questions, no longer caring about Gibbons’s responses, none of which mattered since there was no way the president would put her name in contention.

  It was four o’clock, just a few hours until time to meet Addison for dinner. Addison probably held a lot of the same opinions as Gibbons, but she had the advantage of not having authored judicial opinions that could be thrown back in her face. As solicitor general, she’d been charged with arguing the position of the administration whose opinions weren’t necessarily her own. Any arguments she’d made in that role could easily be dismissed as those of her boss, not hers. As a dean, her role had been mostly administrative. Her biggest obstacle might be her lack of judicial experience.

  Julia shook her head. Here she was acting as if Addison was a serious candidate. She wasn’t. The only reason she was interviewing any of these individuals was to please the gatekeeper, Armstrong. She wasn’t a fool. She could tell by the way Armstrong had handled their meeting that Addison was the one she really wanted. The others were just fluff. Or maybe all of these names were a scare tactic to get Garrett to agree to someone completely different.

  Now she knew why Garrett had chosen her for the job. Gamesmanship. No one was better at it than her. She’d give them their money’s worth. Starting now.

  She waited for a lull in the conversation and then stood to indicate the meeting was over. Thrusting a hand at Gibbons, she said, “Judge Gibbons, it’s been a pleasure. Your résumé is outstanding, and we will certainly pass along a glowing report to the president. I have a feeling he’s going to want to talk to you soon.”

  Savior Sally fell all over herself as she left the room, and Julia doubted she would wait until she got home to leak to the press that she was being considered. Good, it would save her the trouble.

  “You really think she has a chance at being confirmed?”

  Julia looked at the aide who’d posed the question. Danny or Tommy, some name that ended in a “y.” He worked in the counsel’s office. Over his shoulder, Gordon made a face, and she struggled not to laugh. This young attorney could dissect every word of a potential nominee’s jurisprudence, but probably didn’t know jack about real world stuff like who played whom in the last World Series.

  Grudgingly, she had to admit she couldn’t really accomplish this task without these whiz kids. She knew the law as well as any regular lawyer, but these aides were constitutional scholars. She and Gordon would handle the politics, but maybe they could learn something along the way.

  “You tell me.”

  “She’s definitely left of center, but at the core, her message is one of social reform. Should dovetail with the Democratic platform.”

  “Platforms are for jumping off of,” Julia replied. “They’re ideas, meant for elections and speeches and flag waving. Once the election is over, we have to govern. After this confirmation process, the Dems in the Senate will have to go home and explain to their constituents why they voted the way they did. You think the voters in Mississippi and Arkansas are as liberal as the ones in California where Sally Gibbons sits in her ivory tower?

  “We have a majority by the slimmest margin—one vote. For a person like Sally to get confirmed, she would have to get every single Democrat to vote for her because I can guarantee no Republican will cross the aisle for her.”

  “Well, that’s probably the case with everyone on this list, so why are we even wasting our time?”

  Julia sighed. “We’re not wasting our time. It’s strategy. We have to at least consider the Judiciary Committee’s recommendations. It’s part of the process.” She was done giving political lessons for the day. She wasn’t here as a mentor, but as a troubleshooter. When they got around to interviewing Landry, maybe they would get it, maybe they wouldn’t. Not her problem.

  Tommy reviewed the list. “I took constitutional law from Addison Riley at Jefferson. She was an amazing professor and she clerked for Weir. When is she coming in?”

  “I’ll handle that interview myself,” Julia answered and then
looked back down at her papers to signify the topic wasn’t up for discussion.

  Tommy didn’t get it. “Really? I’d love the opportunity to talk to her.”

  Julia looked at him, trying to gauge whether he was questioning her strategy or if he really was dying to see his old law school professor. Her bullshit meter didn’t detect anything. “If she gets a second interview, I promise you’ll be in the room.”

  A few hours later, Julia handed her keys to the valet at the restaurant where she was meeting Addison. When she walked in the foyer and saw Addison waiting, her entire body thrummed with anticipation.

  Addison was striking, classically beautiful. She had a strong, no-nonsense look about her. And she was tall. Julia met very few really tall women. She hadn’t realized how excited she was to see her again. When she approached, Addison turned toward her, and her eyes lit up. Julia was entranced.

  “Thanks for coming into the city. Again.”

  “I live in the city. Guess your vetting process hasn’t gotten that far.”

  “Sorry, I just assumed you lived near the college.”

  Before Addison could respond, the maître d’ interrupted. “Ms. Scott, we have your usual table ready.”

  He led them to a table near the bar, but out of the path of other guests. Once they were seated and alone, Addison leaned forward. “Do you have a special table at every restaurant in town?”

  “Not every one.”

  “I guess you do a lot of entertaining.”

  Julia felt the blush creep up behind her ears. “Is that your way of asking if I get around?”

  “Actually, I imagined you entertained for work, but judging by the fact your ears are red, I’m guessing you were thinking of something else. Bring a lot of dates here?”

  Embarrassed further by her assumption, Julia laughed to clear the air. “Not here. There are a lot of places closer to my apartment.”

  “Is this a date or an interview?”

  “Wow, you really like to cut to the chase, don’t you?”

  “I find directness to be refreshing. You don’t?”

  “I do. I just don’t see it a lot in my line of work.”

  “Well, you can count on me to call it like I see it. Unlike some people, I’ll actually answer a question that’s asked of me.”

  “Ouch. Point taken. But my answer isn’t that simple. Can’t it be a date and an interview?”

  “Not really. If the interview is serious, I doubt the date would be possible.”

  “Are you always this logical?”

  “Mostly. Even more so when I’m liquored up.”

  “Then, by all means, let’s order drinks.” Julia signaled to the waiter hovering a few feet away. “Scotch again?” Addison nodded and Julia ordered the Blue again, telling herself she wasn’t doing it to impress her date. Dinner companion. Whatever.

  “How about we get the interview done and then we can decide what the rest of the evening should be?”

  “Perfect. What’s your first question?”

  “You really like to dive in. Okay, what’s your stance on Roe v. Wade?”

  “Do you want me to tell you the law of Roe v. Wade? Because to the extent that it’s still the law of the land, as a justice I would be bound by its precedents.”

  “I know the law. I’m asking would you vote to overturn it?”

  “It wouldn’t be prudent for me to offer specific commentary on issues that might come before the court.”

  “Then why did Sally Gibbons do that very thing this afternoon?”

  “You’re baiting me. Did you really talk to Sally about a spot on the Supreme Court?”

  “We spoke with Judge Gibbons about her views, but we didn’t talk specifically about the vacancy.”

  “Right. Well, I bet she’s salivating at the chance to move up.”

  “I sense a bit of bitterness.”

  “Not at all. She’s just a bit hard to take. Good luck getting her confirmed.”

  Julia considered what she was about to say, and decided there was no harm. “Between you and me, she doesn’t have a chance of making the short list.”

  “Who’s on your short list?”

  “Are you fishing to see if your name is on it?”

  “I’m perfectly happy not to know.”

  “Diplomatic response, but not really an answer.”

  “I don’t really have an answer.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve never thought about it. Chief Justice Addison Riley.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t ever considered what it would be like. Could you imagine, the Riley Court? But it’s like little kids imagining one day they will be president, long shot, little chance. All the hard work in the world and it all boils down to a piece of luck, a twist of fate. I’m not big on pipe dreams.”

  Julia took a sip of scotch. She liked Addison. More than liked her. She was drawn to her pragmatism. It was refreshing. Didn’t change the fact she was as liberal as Sally Gibbons, but her views didn’t define her in the same way. Sally would pick a fight for the sake of fighting. Addison was more likely to win people over to her side, which might work in most circles, but the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee would eat her alive.

  “How well do you know Senator Burrows?”

  “Jeff? We clerked for Weir together. You spend that many hours together and you’re like family. We don’t keep in touch as often as we should, but we keep up. I saw him at the funeral. Why?”

  “Nothing. He seems a little pushy to me. Surprised Weir selected him.”

  Addison cocked her head. “I would’ve expected you to do more research about the justice whose seat you’re seeking to replace. Every year, Weir picked one brilliant mind who was diametrically opposed to his general beliefs. He didn’t want a crowd of yes-men as his clerks.”

  “Interesting.”

  “Are you considering Jeff?”

  “What?”

  “For Weir’s seat? I mean you can’t really be considering him, can you?”

  “When pigs fly. No, we just have to deal with him on the process. Advice and consent and all.”

  Addison laughed. “You had me worried for a minute. I mean, we’ve always gotten along. He doesn’t let his general beliefs affect his personal relationships, but on the court he’d be a nightmare for the Democratic party. You’d never overturn Citizens United, and Roe v. Wade would be a distant memory. Gay marriage? Forget about it.”

  “Just because we aren’t interested in a big battle in the Senate doesn’t mean we’re suicidal.”

  “Yes, I imagine you have a nice moderate in mind. Let me guess. Is it Cocker? Southland? Landry?”

  Julia tried to hide in her glass, but light sparked in Addison’s eyes.

  “It’s Landry, isn’t it?” She paused as if considering the news. “He’s qualified.”

  “That’s like saying your blind date has a nice personality.”

  “He’s your date, not mine.”

  “What’s your stance on gay marriage?”

  “Wow, way to change the subject. We’re back to me all of a sudden?”

  “Dinner will be here shortly. I’d like to move this along so we can decide if this is a date or not.”

  “Fine. Gay marriage or as I like to call it, marriage, is a right that should be afforded to all citizens. The court took important steps by overturning part of DOMA, but leaving the rest to the states was delaying the inevitable.”

  “So, you think the court should overturn the rest of DOMA, force the states to recognize same-sex marriage?”

  “I see no difference between this issue and the one in Loving v. Virginia. The Fourteenth Amendment applies to the states. Congress shall make no law that affects the equal rights of citizens. Whether it’s the rights of a biracial couple or a same-sex couple makes no difference. If the states run afoul of the principles of equal rights, it’s the court’s duty to step in.”

  “And now I’m wondering why you answered that question, but not the abortion o
ne.”

  “I suppose it’s because I never plan to have an abortion. And I was speaking to you, not the Senate committee.”

  Julia munched a breadstick while she considered a response. Addison’s little speech was loaded with passion, command of the law, and personal detail. Julia had never considered marriage except as a rite many people enter into and many discard, but Addison clearly regarded the institution as reverent and to be protected. Time to change the subject. She signaled to the waiter.

  “I think I’d like to switch to a bottle of wine. Addison, do you have a preference?”

  Addison raised her half empty glass of scotch in salute. “After this, I trust you to order the entire meal.”

  Julia gave the waiter her wine order and ordered some appetizers. “That’ll get us started. How about we abandon all talk of law for the rest of the evening?”

  “Interview over?”

  “For now,” she lied. The interview was over for good, but she was afraid telling Addison the truth would bring an abrupt end to their evening. Addison Riley wouldn’t be a Supreme Court nominee, but she was definitely in the running for her attention.

  *

  Dinner lingered into dessert and coffee and Addison had no desire to see the evening end, but it was getting late and she had an early meeting the next morning.

  “This is the most fun I’ve ever had at a faux job interview.”

  “I hear a but.”

  “But I have an early morning.”

  Julia looked at her watch. “Damn, it is late. I’ll call my car and give you a ride home.”

  “Thanks, but I’m within walking distance. Dupont Circle.”

  “It’s kind of cold.”

  “It’s bitterly cold, but I’m used to it.”

  “I’ll walk you home.”

  “That’s sweet, but just because I enjoy a brisk walk, doesn’t mean you have to endure it.”

  “If you can do it, so can I. Besides, I may not be done with the interview.”

  Again with the suggestive tone. They’d spent the rest of dinner talking about personal things, but mostly Addison’s. The only additional details Addison knew about Julia were that she owned a townhouse on Capitol Hill and she didn’t have any pets. Maybe she could find out more in the course of a few blocks. “All right, a walk it is.”