Let's look at the current composition of the court:
Conservatives (Nazis)William Hubbs Rehnquist-->
Born: 1924
Sworn-In: January 7, 1972 (~32 years ago!)
Nominated by: Richard M Nixon
Retirement rumors? Frequent.
Antonin Scalia-->
Born: 1936
Sworn-In: September 26, 1986 (~22 years ago!)
Nominated by: Ronald W Reagan
Retirement rumors? Infrequent.
Clarence H Thomas-->
Born: 1948
Sworn-In: March 12, 1990 (~14 years ago)
Nominated by: George H.W. Bush
Retirement rumors? Infrequent.
Relatively ModeratesSandra Day O'Connor-->
Born: 1930
Sworn-In: September 25, 1981 (~23 years ago!)
Nominated by: Ronald W Reagan
Retirement rumors? Very Frequent!
Anthony M Kennedy-->
Born: 1936
Sworn-In: February 18, 1988 (~16 years ago)
Nominated by: Ronald W Reagan
Retirement rumors? Infrequent.
"Liberals"John Paul Stevens-->
Born: 1920
Sworn-In: December 19, 1975 (~29 years ago!)
Nominated by: Gerald R Ford
Retirement Rumors? Very frequent!
David H Souter-->
Born: 1939
Sworn-In: October 9, 1990 (~14 years)
Nominated by: George H.W. Bush
Retirement Rumors? Infrequent.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg-->
Born: 1933
Sworn-In: August 10, 1993 (~11 years)
Nominated by: William J. Clinton
Retirement Rumors: Occasional.
Stephen G Breyer-->
Born: 1938
Sworn-In: August 3, 1994 (~10 years)
Nominated by: William J. Clinton
Retirement Rumors: Infrequent.
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Need perspective? Here are some articles:
Could Rehnquist Retire?
http://www.freecongress.org/media/030531ap.asphttp://edition.cnn.com/2002/LAW/12/26/scotus.rehnquist/Could Scalia Be the Chief?
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1036630448959O'Connor Not Retiring.. yet..
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A16922-2003Jul6?language=printerJohn Paul Stevens' Retirement Could Tip the Balance..
http://www.thehollandsentinel.net/stories/062099/new_stevens.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/supcourt/stories/wp061498.htmHandicapping the Retirement Race:
http://slate.msn.com/?id=2074450====================================================================
The first thing to note about each of the above justices' profiles: look at the average time served on the high court. It's just about
19 years. That's phenomenal! Considering that a president serves for 8 years at most, it's easy to conclude that a good Supreme Court justice will keep giving and giving and giving! A president, liberal or conservative will sign bad legislation in each term - it's guaranteed. But, as with all controversial laws, there will be a court challenge, and a good Supreme Court will always knock down an overwhelming majority of those laws.
Another thing to note: the moderates and liberals are much more likely to retire than the conservatives are. Let's look at the consequences with different presidents in office.
First, assume that Bush wins election in 2004. Then assume that O'Connor, Ginsburg, and Stevens leave the court one way or another. With Bush appointing Scalia clones, this would leave the court with a 6-1-2 Conservative-Moderate-Liberal configuration. Consider this nightmare..
Bye, bye, EPA powers!
No more reproductive rights.
Welcome back, sodomy laws.
The right to a lawyer, or to privacy? Ha!
Separate-but-equal: good.
Hello, theocracy!
I'd never get to marry my partner. :cry:
:scared:
Now let's assume that our nominee wins in 2004. Then assume that the same three justices leave the bench. With our Democrat making appointments in the cloth of Ginsburg (not too shabby), this would leave the court with a 3-1-5 Conservative-Moderate-Liberal configuration. Consider this dream..
EPA powers: protected!
Gay marriage? Certain.
Reproductive rights: preserved!
Sodomy laws? Gone for good.
Right to privacy? Solid!
Separate-but-equal: bad.
Separation of church and state? Not by a wall, but by an electro-shock force field!
:toast:
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Please keep this in mind when voting this November. Any of our candidates will nominate high-quality nominees to the high court. Even Clinton, much maligned for being too moderate, was able to do so. If we're able to lower the average age of our liberals, raise their average health statuses, and increase the number of the liberal members on the court overall, electing a Democratic president will pay dividends in spades for the next ten, twenty, maybe even thirty years!
So please consider voting Democratic this November; their court nominees will earn your vote many hundreds of times over and over again. Thanks for your thoughtful consideration. :grouphug: