AP: Sandra Day O'Connor to Sit on Appeals Panel

[Patsy Stone]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-oconnor-returns,0,7616584.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

NEW YORK -- Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor will wear the black robe again next week when she joins a federal appellate court panel in Manhattan to hear arguments on five cases.

O'Connor, a moderate appointed to the Supreme Court by President Reagan, will sit Wednesday on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said Circuit Executive Karen Milton.

Senior Judge John M. Walker Jr., who stepped down Sunday as the circuit's chief judge, invited O'Connor to sit on the panel, Milton said. Forty percent of the judges assigned to 2nd Circuit panels are visiting judges.

O'Connor, the nation's first female justice, will sit on a three-judge panel beside Walker and the new chief judge, Dennis Jacobs, Milton said.

[napi21]

1. OK, I've got 2 questions.

What are the 5 case?

If she still wants to be a judge, why did she REALLY resign from the SCOTUS?

I like Sandra, and I really believe she followed the law while she was a Justice, but I don't understand why she quit a GREAT JOB for a mediocre one????

[JDPriestly]

2. Can we persuade her to return to the Supreme Court?

I don't suppose the Constitution permits it, but I really don't know. It would be great is we could have her back although she was far more conservative about most issues that I am.

[Zensea]

4. Maybe she wanted to be a temp instead of permanent staff?

Even bigwigs get those kinds of feelings.

[mcscajun]

5. She retired to spend more time with her ailing husband

who has Alzheimer's Disease, and a "visiting" spot on the appellate court is far less stressful than a permanent spot on the Supreme Court, by far. As a retired Justice, O'Connor is eligible to sit by designation on lower federal courts. I don't begrudge her that opportunity, nor do I judge her for wanting to spend what precious time is left with a husband who before long won't know her.

President William Howard Taft always wanted to be a Supreme Court judge, but his wife had loftier ambitions. Yet, after his Presidency, he got his chance when a short time later, President Harding appointed him Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. Everyone has to choose their own path.

[napi21]

8. I know you're right. I guess I'm just selfish.

I so much miss a SCOTuS where peopleweren't able to predict the justices were going to voteon partisanship!

[mcscajun]

9. Me, too.

I wish she'd been able to stay, but we can only ask so much of public servants.

Would that we actually HAD more good ones right about now!

[mazzarro]

7. I beg to disagree with that assertion

When it counted the most, she definitely did NOT follow the LAW - the 2000 election!

[Toots]

10. Do you believe she followed the law in 2000 Bush* v Gore?

If so tell me how you believe Bush* would have been irreparably harmed if the vote counting were to continue and how could he have been any more harmed than Gore since the votes had not been tallied and certified. The only ones that could possibly have been harmed were the voters themselves. I can not fathom what law she could have followed or how Bush* could have claimed standing. The entire purpose of the Supreme Court is to establish precedent and in their entire history they have never claimed their decisions could not be used as precedent until Bush* v Gore..

[cynatnite]

11. As much as I liked her...

you're right about this. Her partisan colors completely showed on this. I don't hate her and I am glad she made good decisions on SCOTUS, but this one will always be a blight on her record. I hope at the very least...she regrets it.

[SoCalDem]

12. Because she served her purpose.. getting junior in office

and she could "safely" retire with him there to name her successor..

She's a vile person..

now she will be the legal dilettante, flitting from one well-paid gig to another..

[KoKo]

13. Yep...I have your same questions...it's kind of weird...she retires from

Supreme Court to take care of her ailing hubby and now shows up here?? :shrug:

[LiberalArkie]

3. I would like to know the REAL reason she left.

[mcscajun]

6. A husband with Alzheimer's isn't enough of a reason?

He may not know her much longer; why shouldn't she spend what little cognizant time he has left with him? She's 75 and under personal stress; cut her some slack already. Besides, it's all water under the bridge now. We have to deal with Today.

[KoKo]

14. "Move Along" doesn't explain her actions in going back to "Judge"

does it though? She retired from Supremes but still has to have her "glove in the fighting ring?"

Some HYPOCRACY going on here... Unless you are thinking that her hubby is so badly off that she needs a "break" and misses her old "judicial robes."

:shrug:

[mcscajun]

15. Actually, that's precisely what I'm thinking. Every caregiver needs

a break, and every old warhorse still answers to the sound of the trumpets.

[cynatnite]

16. She decided to listen to 5 cases...not take a full time job

Besides, who has the right to judge her on her actions after she retires?

HYPOCRISY is preaching against alcohol and then going home to drink a bottle of scotch. She is not the hypocrite here.

:eyes:

[PsN2Wind]

17. SCOTUS doesn't seem to be a 9 to 5

50 weeks of the year job. Actually they pick how long they wish to stay in session and how many cases they will hear.
She was reported to have been wanting to retire prior to the 2000 election but didn't want a Democrat to pick her successor. She saw to that then split. You're much more forgiving than I. I hope she lives to one hundred years old as that is probably how long it will take for the damage she helped bring upon our country to be repaired. And I hope every day she is reminded of her part.