As I Watched President Obama Announce the Retirement of Justice Souter

[PopSixSquish]

I thought of my college constitutional law professor. A man whose love of teaching was surpassed only by his love of the rule of law and of this country. This is a man who teared up one day in class when discussing the Constitution. He made us act out arguements before our own mock court and took us on a field trip to the Supreme Court where I saw Thurgood Marshall sit and question lawyers. (if you ever wanted to know what the voice of God sounded like, think Thurgood Marshall)

He was active in the Democratic party in his state and wrote a book on public school desegregation. He died late last spring before Obama's election. I know that the past 8 years were absolute hell for him as he watched the previous administration shred the document he spent his life teaching and lecturing about.

"I will seek someone who understands that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book. ..... I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes." said the President

My professor did not live to see better days, but I know that somewhere he is smiling and then will remind his class that the rule of law will always triumph in the end...

Bless you sir...

[NanceGreggs]

1. And bless you, ma'am ...

... for sharing this.

[PopSixSquish]

2. Thank You NanceGreggs - Coming From You That is a Compliment

it's ma'am actually.

[ClarkUSA]

3. Thank you. Let's HOPE that Pres. Obama gets to replace at least three Justices by 2016.

[liberalmuse]

4. God I wish there were more people like your professor.

He sounds like a wonderful man. If the soul does live on, I hope he's enjoying this.

It was brilliant the way President Obama took over the story on Justice Souter's retirement by interrupting Gibbs presser and relaying the statement he did. Just brilliant. He essentially took the reigns right there, letting the American people and Congress know exactly what type of justice he was looking for. I didn't like that the news came out last night, but our Prez, as always, is on top of things.

[PopSixSquish]

6. He Was a Gentleman and a Scholar

and though college was many years ago (20 in fact). I have never forgotten him. My Con Law book was the only one I kept.

[Barack_America]

5. Pleased to rec this. nt

[Bluerthanblue]

7. Rec. beautifully spoken.

:grouphug:

[Shanti Mama]

8. I had a very similar experience, though we didn't take the field trip

My Con Law professor, back in the 70s, was an icon, beloved and feared a bit by all students. I was honored to be in his class. Funnily, it made me drop my plans for law school as I didn't aspire to be a Supreme Court judge or professor and anything else, in law, seemed mundane. So much for 22 year old thinking.