On April 20, Gov. Baldacci nominated Warren Silver to a vacancy on the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. Mr. Silver is the governor’s personal lawyer. I don’t know anything else about him, but I’ll accept that he’s well-qualified for the post.

The nomination is subject to review by the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee and to Senate confirmation. The current makeup of that committee is eight Democrats and five Republicans. Should the minority have the power to prevent the Senate from voting on the nomination? Suppose those Republicans assert that Mr. Silver is out of the mainstream?

Many contributors to this opinion page have declared that this power, at the federal level, is crucial to our democracy. Or is it crucial only when wielded by Democrats?

The editorial cartoon of May 4 suggests that changing the filibuster rule is a violent assault on the fabric of democracy. Or is it violent only when changed by Republicans?

On Feb. 20, 1975, on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Ted Kennedy said, “Again and again in recent years, the filibuster has been the shame of the Senate and the last resort of special-interest groups. Too often, it has enabled a small minority of the Senate to prevent a strong majority from working its will and serving the public interest.”

It’s still true today, although the senator has changed his mind. Or can the public interest be served only by Democrats?

Michael LeBlanc, East Wilton

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