Supreme Court idiocy..

[skooooo]

Let me just say it now, as I try to avoid getting caught up in the other discussions regarding Supreme Court nominees.

I understand there are no "rules" as to who Obama can pick. Traditionally, nominees are picked from those who have worked themselves up through the judicial system - and for good reason. You want someone on the bench who has a lot of experience as a judge.

It's not enough to "know the law" (John Turley). Putting someone up there because you like their politics is also not a reason (Hillary Clinton).

Systems and traditions like this exist for a reason- because it makes good sense. I hope Obama picks the best JUDGE - and it will probably be someone whom we've never heard of.

I want a JUDGE on the bench who's tried a lot of different kind of cases, and has a lot of experience hearing court cases.

'nuff said.

[T Wolf]

1. I want a real liberal to, in a small way, counter the reich-wing whack-jobs the pukes have

put there.

But it seems that we at best get a center-right moderate to balance the extreme wingers from the enemy.

Just once, I would like to see a Democratic president fight for a real liberal.

[Towlie]

2. Experience won't help anyone know right from wrong.

It's not easy to list the necessary qualities of a good Supreme Court Justice, but I really don't think experience as a judge belongs very high on the list. We don't need a judge or a lawyer, we need a brilliant scholar with credentials and qualifications that rise well above those of mere judges and lawyers.

[skooooo]

11. Yes we need a judge or a lawyer.

:eyes:

[Romulox]

3. Anton Scalia has a lot of judicial experience. Let's find another like him!

This idea that there is "neutral" jurisprudence is silly. There is no such thing as "the best JUDGE"--Supreme Court cases are decided on two bases:

1) precedent
2) ideology

[n2doc]

5. Damn straight!

It is absolutely clear that SC decisions are tipped by ideology. Given the presence of at least 4 "judges" who always rule in a predictable manner for Republicans and corporations, we need a counterbalance. And I hope they are young and healthy, just like the last two appointees.

[skooooo]

10. Those things are important too..

But I think being a judge is the first priority in picking a new one.

[Lyric]

4. Out of 109 Supreme Court justices in our nation's history,

41 of them had no prior judicial experience. This includes people like John Marshall, Earl Warren, Louis Brandeis, and William O. Douglas.

Would Barack Obama be President today without Earl Warren? Would any of us have a right to privacy at ALL if not for Louis Brandeis? What condition would our First Amendment rights be in right now if not for the fierce and broad free-speech advocacy of William O. Douglas?

From a historical standpoint--our strongest, most courageous, most dedicated liberal lions on the SCOTUS have by and large been justices with NO prior judicial experience. What's more is that nearly all of them started out moderate and become devotedly liberal and progressive within a very short amount of time on the bench. Notice that when we (Americans) start picking nothing but federal judges for the high court, we lose our idealist justices and gain nothing in return but a bunch of wishy-washy moderates.

I, for one, advocate for a LION. I don't care at all about prior judicial experience, so long as the education and ability are there. I look at Earl Warren and see all the proof that I need that being a judge before SCOTUS does not necessarily make you a better SCOTUS justice--at least, not if we want our justices to do anything more than take the "safe way out" and avoid controversy at the expense of civil rights and freedom.

America doesn't need another moderate right now. We need a Warren, a Brandeis, a Douglas. To hell with discriminating based on prior judicial experience--so long as said potential justice is properly educated, understands both law AND lawmaking, and is more likely to be an Earl Warren than an Anthony Kennedy, I will be behind Obama's choice 100%.

[Control-Z]

6. (Hillary Clinton)? n/t

[Goblinmonger]

7. Sonia Sotomayor. End of discussion. n/t

[Supersedeas]

8. Allyson K. Duncan for consideration before discussion is nixxed =)

[rcrush]

9. Judge Hank "The Hangman" BMW

Why you think he done it?