Didn't Johnson nominate Abe Fortas, who was his lawyer? Doug <<<<<>>>>>
believe that fortas/lbj lawyer/client relationship was limited to one instance (yes, a quite important one for johnson's political career, disputed '48 texas senate race eventually declared in johnson's favor), the two men's long friendship originated during new deal when each was associated with inner circle of politics in fdr's administration, and fortas would be a close/trusted adviser to johnson even after he was sitting on supreme court, but i'm unfamiliar with any accounts that refer to fortas as johnson's 'personal attorney' (maybe robert caro, his treatment of johnson is quite severe), but maybe i'm playing semantics here......
interestingly (certainly so given their experience with fdr) model for johnson/fortas relationship was fdr's consultation with court members, particularly his reliance upon brandeis and frankfurter, might add here that this kind of connection was not secret, wasn't considered improper, and didn't get much press attention...
in practice, chief justices have long served as presidential advisers/ consultants - taft (only former prez to sit on supreme court) advised harding and coolidge on everything, as did stone for hoover (republican stone would also develop adviser relationship with fdr)... michael hoover
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