"I wouldn't know Ullman if he fell over me."

"But I know a little something about lawyers and their reputations in this town, and Ullmann has a good one."

I should have stopped reading the article right there.  Didn't Steve Martin used to say something equally ironic, such as "I didn't see the movie, but I loved it"?

"When you go to law school you're taught how to practice in any court."  Uh, not really true, Mr. Cullen.  Law schools primarily teach students about the law but not about law practice.  They might teach procedure, but very little effort is spent on applying it.  Hence--tens of thousands of lawyers licensed in the commonwealth, many of whom cannot put two sentences together coherently when appearing in court.

Super court is the big leagues here.  It's MLB.  Asking for a judicial candidate to have trial experience in the forum for which he's nominated is not only reasonable, it's compellingly rational .  Red Sox scouts don't recommend foosball champions without any baseball experience to join the starting lineup.

The bulk of Mr. Cullen's comments today are based upon his prejudice for all things "get Whitey."  Sure, Mr. Ullman was a tenacious advocate for the truth with regard to Mr. Bulger's alleged criminal activities and the FBI's proven, disgraceful history of obstructing justice and criminal investigations.  He is better suited to being nominated for a prosecutorial position.  Could he be an adequate judge of the superior court?  Sure.  He could even be a great one.  But asking about and even questioning his experience in so important a venue as the superior court is not getting it backwards.  What questions should councilors ask--What's your favorite color?

Glib and unfair criticism of the article.  Get rid of the sports analogies and celebrity wisdom.

Ullman has the brais and independence to be a great judge. He has more than ample experience, and he has demonstrated strength and honesty in all that he has done. It makes no sense not to confirm him.

Kevin, Kevin, Kevin. Enough with the "Whitey is the Devil" hysterical ranting! Was he a bad guy? Sure was. Shoudl he go to jail forever? Yep. But do ya think that the people who actually pulled the tigeer and killed more than a dozen people should have received something like 5 years in jail just so he would testify against Whitey? Do ya think that former FBI agent Morris should have been given immunity just so he would testify? Maybe they should have made a case on him and sent his sorry butt to jail too! Do ya think that maybe State Police Lt Schneiderhan and his niece who worked in the Verizon Security office and both tipped off Whitey and Weeks that the feds were looking at them, maybe, just maybe they should have gotten more than a slap on the wrist? Judge Wolf gave her probation! And Schneiderhan compromised many State Police investigations and wiretaps that the GREAT Globe reporters attribute in Black Mass to Connolly, a corrupt and miserable excuse for a human being. Do ya think some of the Globe columnists blew this whole Whitey fiasco out of proportion? Jeez - it must just be an odd coindicne that everyone at the Globe, except the truck drivers, seems to have written a must read book on Whitey. Maybe someday, the Globe columnists will take a look at Beacon Hill and ask themselves if any criminals ever visit or, GASP, work there. Egads! Maybe the GREAT Globe columnists might even ask questions like, "Why did the investigation of corruption stop at Diane Wilkerson?" There was a time when a Globe reporter would ask these type of questions. Now it seems all they have time for is to inflate their own importance and write books. And no Kevin, I am not going to run out and buy your book.