Roberts has famously, and somewhat facilely, likened the judge’s role to that of umpire, objectively calling balls and strikes.

They facilely dismiss good critiques as “hit jobs” and level ad hominem attacks to undercut criticism.

Still, in judging and acting, we must avoid sinning against King’s legacy by facilely claiming him for whatever policies we favor.

He didn't mention white-haired, eerily slim Bill Clinton, who may be derided a bit too facilely these days by pundits but probably remains a potential part of the campaign arsenal in the fall.

Liberalism lacks a profound sense of evil — but so does conservatism these days, when evil is facilely projected onto a foreign host of rising political forces united only in their rejection of Western values.