Kudos to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey for appointing Clint Bolick to the state Supreme Court.

Bolick, often described as a jurist who stands for “the little guy,” is one of the most principled and independent thinkers appointed to any state court in years.  Though derided by the left as a dangerous conservative (ThinkProgress calls him “The most Chilling Political Appointment You’ve Never Heard Of”), Bolick has taken stands against conventional positions of the left and the right (he is vocal in his condemnation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, for instance, and he suffered criticism from John McCain for opposing taxpayer-supported funding of a professional sports stadium – another reason I like the man.)

He made his name defending small, independent business owners – and aspiring business owners – against government oppression and injustice (the primary source of the left’s hatred of him), and against government abuses of civil forfeiture.  For these, he has won my admiration and gratitude.

When statists opppose a jurist so vehemently, my first instinct is to suspect that we have a worthy man or woman. I can only wish that men and women like Bolick will fill the Texas courts for generations to come.