Simple Man Politics

Let’s talk about Supreme Court Justices today. This could be a very big, contentious, and hard fought over issue politically over the next four years. The reasons that this subject is so important are very diverse. This body of Justices can decide matters such as Roe V Wade, gun rights, and gay marriage. As a result both the left and the right are continually jockeying for a majority of Justices on their side in the US Supreme Court.

President George W Bush appointed two Justices to the bench over his eight years in the White House and gave the US Supreme Court a narrow conservative majority in the high court. Bush announced Federal Appellate Judge John Roberts as Sandra Day O’Connor’s replacement on July 19th, 2005. On September 5th, 2005 Bush renominated John Roberts as the 17th Chief Justice of the United States. Roberts was confirmed by the Senate on September 29th, 2005. On October 31st, 2005 Bush nominated another Federal Appellate Judge Sam Alito to replace Sandra Day O’Connor. Alito was confirmed as the 110th Justice of the Supreme Court on January 31st, 2006.

President elect Barack Obama may have at least one Supreme Court Justice Appointment during his Presidency. The rumor has it that his appointment may be replacing Justice John Paul Stevens appointed to his post as Justice in 1975. The Democrats feel it is in their best interest to secure this seat during Obama’s administration, so that if they should lose the next national election, they will not lose the Supreme Court seat to a conservative appointment. If that were to happen it could be disastrous for the left, because a clear conservative majority could in all likelihood overturn Roe V Wade.

However it appears as of right now that Justice Stevens is in no hurry to depart the high court. While he is currently the longest serving justice and the oldest one as well he is in remarkable physical and mental condition. It also seems that Justice Stevens will be serving at least until 2010 as he has already hired his law clerks who would begin their work in October 2009. Fortunately for the left his political views are in line with left so the seat is already theirs. I will say this about Justice Stevens though. He is a remarkable and fair jurist. He has never attempted to legislate from the bench, and has interpreted the constitution correctly. He is an asset to the high court.

Before I go I have just one more point to add with regard to Supreme Court Justices and that is that those seats are lifetime appointments. This means that the Justices do not have to vacate their seats until they are ready to do so. Justice William Rehnquist exercised his right to remain on the court until his death, at which time Justice John Roberts became Chief Justice.

I hope you all have a terrific day. I will be back again soon, CIAO4NOW!!!!!