Next President Will Swing Court With 3 Justices Likely To Retire

[wildflower]

(This is from Investor's Business Daily, but contains some good info)

Next President Will Swing Court With 3 Justices Likely To Retire

snip

The present court is evenly divided — four conservatives, four liberals and one swing vote, Sandra Day O'Connor.

snip

The court's oldest member, John Paul Stevens, is 84. Chief Justice William Rehnquist turned 80 this month. Clarence Thomas, at 56, is the only justice under 65.

Rehnquist, Stevens and O'Connor are expected to retire soon, at least within the next four years. That would give the next president three new justices to appoint, when even one could tip the balance.

snip

"I wouldn't pick a judge who said that the Pledge of Allegiance couldn't be said in a school because it had the words 'under God' in it," Bush said in Friday's debate. "I think that's an example of a judge allowing personal opinion to enter into the decision-making process as opposed to a strict interpretation of the Constitution."

Kerry has pledged to oppose any nominee who would "turn back the clock" on abortion, civil rights, civil liberties, and laws protecting workers and the environment.

Though once opposed to "litmus tests," Kerry has said lately he would appoint justices only who accept Roe v. Wade as "settled law."

more

http://www.investors.com/editorial/general.asp?v=10/12

[Hawkeye-X]

1. With Kerry at helm

6-3 and Scalia decides to resign in frustration followed by "Me Too" Thomas, shifting it to 8-1.

[Zorra]

2. This election is a contest between liberty and totalitarianism.

If Bu$h is re-selected, democracy in America will be ended permanently. Bu$h will appoint Supreme Court Justices that support the republican party police state. The highest court in the nation will become, literally a totalitarian fascist "mockery of justice".

If John Kerry is elected, America will embark on a course toward greater individual and collective civil rights, liberty, and security.

[bear425]

7. well said. n/t

[qwlauren35]

3. This has always been...

the backbone of my ABB ideology.

I think most thinking people who follow politics know that the Court will swing one way or another in the next 4 years. With Bush it will be a HARD right swing... with Kerry, I'm not sure. It might be a moderate left swing, it might be a hard left swing. Only time will tell...

[Ranec]

4. We are lucky noone has retired this term.

I think they are embarassed about Bush v. Gore, and so they are waiting for an actually elected president before they retire.

I have a feeling that if Kerry is president then Rehnquist won't retire. He will try to wait for the repug.

[Bake]

6. Rehnquist can't last 8 more years.

IMHO.

Bake, Esq.

[RobertDevereaux]

5. This is *the* critical issue with which to confront undecideds...

...the true limtus test for genuine patriotism!