While I was mediating a real estate litigation on January 14, President Obama appointed Ronald L. Buch to the Tax Court Bench, for a term to end in 2028. The President never even bothered to leave me a message, much less ask my opinion; I feel slighted.

But I bear Judge Buch no ill-will. In fact, I wish him well.

Judge Buch followed the usual cursus honorum to reach his present exalted position, from a tax concentration in law school to the obligatory LL.M. in taxation, admission to the Bars of several States, to a Big Four accounting firm to Chief Counsel’s Office, back to a couple of white shoes with partner status, with a bushel-basketful of Bar Association committee chairs thrown in. A nice resume.

So hail to Judge Buch. I await many learned decisions.