This afternoon, the Giuliani campaign is set unveil its "Justice Advisory Committee." In addition to Ted Olson, who is chairing the committee and has already endorsed Giuliani, it will include former Bush administration deputy attorney general Larry Thompson and Miguel Estrada, who would be on the U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. today were it not for Democratic filibustering:

  • Estrada became the poster boy for President Bush's stalled federal judge nominees. Social conservative lawmakers and pro-family groups fought extremely hard to get him confirmed. Eventually he pulled his name from consideration. But the fact that he's back on Giuliani's justice committee is a major "get" for him.


Anything that Giuliani does to reassure conservatives that as president he would appoint strict constructionist judges will provide a boost to his chances of capturing the Republican nomination. Having Estrada on his team goes a long way.