Robert Bolt’s award winning play and movie A Man for All Seasons (Best Picture 1966) spoke to a man named Thomas More who stood tall in any season, unswayed by political winds, a lawyer’s lawyer, devoted to justice. Perhaps only a Thomas More could win confirmation to the United States Supreme Court in today’s politically charged environment.

But we have such a man in our midst — Judge Jimmie V. Reyna, of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. And it is merely a convenient aside that Judge Reyna comes from a demographic that neither party could reasonably have the will or political capital to alienate in a pitched opposition battle.

“It is my intention to nominate somebody who has impeccable credentials, somebody who should be a consensus candidate, is deserving to be on the Supreme Court,” said President Obama during a recent interview with CNN en Español anchor Juan Carlos Lopez. Judge Reyna is just such a person.

Over the weekend it has been reported that according to unnamed sources President Obama has narrowed his choice to one of three federal appeals court judges: Sri Srinivasan and Merrick Garland, both of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Colombia Circuit, and Paul Watford, from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in California. While it is certainly possible that the President has narrowed his consideration to these three candidates, history teaches us that strange twists and turns can and do occur in the Supreme Court nominating process.

With four years of experience on the Federal Circuit, confirmed to that court unanimously with a 86-0 vote and vocal bipartisan support, Judge Reyna would be the first Mexican-American to become a Supreme Court Justice, he would be the first international trade lawyer to become a Supreme Court Justice, and he would bring 30 years of broad legal experience and IP training to the High Court. The American Bar Association has ranked him as unanimously well-qualified, its highest ranking.

Judge Reyna is a faith-driven moderate whose story of excellence and overcoming obstacles both inspires and informs his experience as a sitting circuit court judge. His 180 written opinions evidence an unparalleled work ethic, and provide a clear insight into his judicial attributes: detailed attention to facts, cogent thinking, clear writing, and admittedly a singular ideology: devotion to justice. As we deserve and should expect from a Supreme Court justice, he is beholden to no group, political bent, or predetermined outcome. Further, as Gene Quinn observed when he suggested Judge Raymond Chen be nominated to the Supreme Court, given the Federal Circuit’s defined jurisdiction there will be no lurking judicial opinions that in any way relate to religious freedom, the Second Amendment, the Environmental Protection Agency or any hot button issue that could derail a Reyna nomination.

We realize this is a political season, and both political parties have politicized this appointment for their own reasons and objectives. Judge Reyna, however, stands apart from the political winds of change and stands unequivocally as representation of what could be possible if this appointment were based on strength of character and ability to seek and achieve justice.Only a Cromwell could oppose such a man.