Aging Supreme Court energizes Republicans more than Democrats in 2016 race

[TexasTowelie]

WASHINGTON — Wedged between the Republican and Democratic national conventions next July will fall an event of greater long-term significance for the future of the republic: Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's 80th birthday.

Barring unforeseen events, Kennedy will become the third sitting octogenarian on the court — Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 82, and Justice Antonin Scalia turns 80 in March. That will mark the first time since George H.W. Bush entered the White House more than a quarter century ago that a president has inherited three justices that old. At 78 by then, Justice Stephen Breyer will be close behind.

Of all the reasons why the high court will loom large in the presidential election — from a docket brimming with hot-button issues to intensive lobbying campaigns on the right and left — none looms as large as simple arithmetic and actuarial tables. The average age for Supreme Court retirements is just shy of 79. Since 1900, the average age of those who died while still serving was 69.

With the court narrowly divided, whoever wins the White House next November might enjoy the best chance to recast the high court in his or her image since Franklin Roosevelt did from 1937-43, when he named eight new justices. A Democrat such as Hillary Clinton might get to replace Kennedy or Scalia, both named to the court by President Ronald Reagan. A Republican such as Jeb Bush might get to replace Ginsburg or Breyer, President Bill Clinton's nominees.

Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2015/10/25/supreme-court-president-age-80-election/74003698/

[Skittles]

1. all the folk who will only vote for their preferred candidate

I wish they would think of the Supreme Court

[brer cat]

2. Absolutely, Skittles.

This is one of the most important issues imo. An even more conservative court for decades to come would be a disaster.

[justiceischeap]

3. I'm voting specifically for the Supreme Court

if we use decisions like Citizens United as an example, you can see what kind of long-lasting effects having a conservative stacked court can do to this country. Just imagine them replacing 1-3 more justices.

If people are really concerned about economic justice (again, another example), they should be concerned about the Supreme Court because a conservative court will rule in favor of big business every single time--further screwing the "common" man.