NS-you're correct, hence not so terrible that Andrew gave a hearing, since it was not an opinion (as gg quoted from cc).
However, it is still troubling, since j. Hall recommendation was right on--yet Andrew felt a need for a hearing.
If it was just to make all sides feel they got a fair chance--as you say--Andrew would not have come out of the gate and side with hikma for 2/3 of the hearing. He should have relied at least at the outset on the report ---instead of siding with hickma and attacking amrn.
Yes--at the end he started to get it--but I am nervous it took him so long--especially since he had Hall's very logical report in his hand--which he should have given much weight to.
eie