Fred Thompson, Law & Order star and former Republican senator, has agreed to act as advisor to the next Supreme Court nominee.
The position opened up last week when Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court, announced her retirement after 24 terms. President George Bush will nominate a replacement, who must then be confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Thompson, who has served on the Committee himself, will guide the nominee through the confirmation process.
Thompson began his political career when he became an assistant US attorney in 1969. He was a congressional lawyer during the Watergate hearings, and later took on a Tennessee Parole Board case that resulted in Tennessee Governor Ray Blanton falling from grace on charges of selling pardons. Thompson's acting career was launched when he starred in Marie, a movie based on the book he wrote about the Blanton scandal.
After tasting the spotlight with Marie, Thompson went on to appear in films such as The Hunt for Red October, Barbarians at the Gate, Cape Fear, and Die Hard 2. He bounced back into politics in 1994, when he ran for and won the Senate seat left vacant by the resignation of Al Gore. He was reelected for a second term, which ended in 2003, and then returned to acting with his role on Law & Order.
Production of Law & Order is on hold through the rest of July, but shooting schedules might have to be rearranged if Thompson's political duties continue past then.
Comments (3)
Amazing. Law and Order' writers have more guts, more integrity, than NBC's news 'creators', who lie by omission over our shameful involvement in Iraq, our torturing of human beings who have had no charges brought, our federal government's corruption that reaches into every nook and cranny of the White House, including the puppet president.<br />
<br />
Yet one of the stars is part of the unindicted felons in our federal government. What corporation is paying him off?<br />
Bush the puppet already has someone feeding him lines, which he can almost pronounce.<br />
Why is it NBC and Law and Order can put on such brave shows, as the one calling out the mercenaries, the war profiteering by Haliburton/Cheney we saw tonight.....and their 'news' shows be so full of lies?
I used to be a BIG Fan of the Law And Order Series. However, I am TIRED of this Scalia-esk BUSHITE!!!! I am not watching your show again until you get rid of this Fascist!!!! I am tired of hearing his RIGHT-WING Politics!!! In case you have NOT noticed, Thompson's precious BUSH is sinking in the Polls on ALL fronts! Bush is HATED INTENSELY around the World and now FINALLY in this Country as well. I equate Thompson to BUSH, and I hate Fred Thompson's GUTS!!!! Until you get rid of this BASTARD, I am not watching your show anymore! Too bad you have been slow to release the Season DVD's. I will Purchase ALL Season DVD's EXCEPT for the seasons in which good ole Fred Thompson stars. I AM SICK OF SEEING HIS FACE!!!!<br />
<br />
P.S. Along with Getting rid of this RIGHT-WING Ideologue, you might want to go BACK to hiring an ADA character who can ACT!!!!<br />
<br />
Mark -- Chicago, IL<br />
moreless
Wow from the Law and order series to the real thing again.