Would you be happy if Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer all step down on January 21st?

[blindbucky]

Would you prefer they stay through Obama's term or step down sooner to allow younger justices to take their place?

I'm torn. I'd like to see 4 long-term liberal fixtures on the court, but there are certainly risks in appointing new justices.

[klook]

1. No. I would be happy if

Roberts, Alito, Thomas, and Scalia all stepped down on January 21st.

The others can step down when they get ready.

[blindbucky]

3. Well, obviously...

But how horrible would it be if they didn't step down during Obama's entire term (or 2) and stepped down under a republican president?

[Sebastian Doyle]

15. I doubt Stevens would make it another 8 years.

Probably not Ginsburg either, if she's not healthy. And while I don't wish bad health on anybody, it certainly would be a good thing for the country if Fat Tony Scalia or his puppet Clarence had to step down.

[mzteris]

4. yeah!

:woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce: :woohoo: :bounce:

That would be the most awesomest thing I can think of right now. . . .

[tblue]

2. No. Not all at once. There's no reason for that.

[ruggerson]

5. Sure

as long as Ginsburg "accidentally" smacks Scalia with her gavel on the way out the door, inadvertently creating a fifth vacancy.

[lligrd]

6. I'll Defer To Their Judgment

since they seem to have shown pretty good judgment for all these years.

[pnwmom]

24. One of them should have retired 8 or 12 years ago, while Clinton was

President. We're just lucky he didn't die during the Bush presidency.

[sui generis]

7. I would be happy if lightning struck in several key places

on the SCOTUS bench, vafanculo, if you know what I mean. I would definitely be arrested for going all Billy Elliot on their socially conservative graves.

[GodlessBiker]

8. I think it would be better if they spaced themselves out a bit. Maybe one every 4 months.

[galaxy21]

9. He's just going to be keep the balance by replacing them, ideally Kennedy would go

and you'd have an inconsistent judge replaced by a liberal one.

But its been speculated Kennedy will never go willingly, since he likes the ego boost of being the swing vote.

[philosophie_en_rose]

10. I'd be happier if Kennedy went.

A replacement would give us a stable majority. He's 72, so it might be retirement time.

Wag of the finger at O'Connor for not waiting it out.

[galaxy21]

13. O'Connor wanted to be replaced by a conservative

She was pro choice, but other than that...she didn't want Bill Clinton replacing her that's for sure.

[VeraAgnes]

11. It was my hope and indeed my understanding that

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubb-Jones would of been the next Justice on the U.S Supreme Court...to our loss, she died just before the Democratic Convention. :cry:

[LiberalFighter]

12. It would be best if Stevens, Souter, Ginsberg and Breyer retired

by the 3rd year of Obama's term.

There may be a good possibility that up to 3 others would retire before the end of Obama's 2nd term.

We need to make sure that the Republicans do not gain any type of an advantage with the 2010 election.

Justices can retire when they reach 65 with full pay.

[ColbertWatcher]

14. Good point! n/t

[hlthe2b]

16. No... they need to stay as long as possible for continuity...

well spaced retirements, fine... But, let's start with Kennedy, Thomas, Fat Boy Scalia...

[galaxy21]

18. I really hope Stevens retires soon, he's earned it

And the guy's 88. He held on a lot longer than he had to.

[Libertyfirst]

25. Agreed we need well spaced retirements.

Remember the SCOTUS continues to hear cases even with vacancies. We don't want important decisions to be reach while the more liberal or moderate seats are vacant. However, the liberals and moderates should go and permit Obama to replace them during his first term. Nature may, of course, provide other vacancies.

[jaysunb]

17. I'd like to see life time appointments eliminated.

Maybe 12 year terms or age cut offs...say 75 years old.

I'm not sure if that would require a Constitutional change, but it would give fresh perspectives for changing times and laws.

:shrug:

[Misskittycat]

19. Why should Souter and Breyer step down?

The other two are old and/or sick. Souter is wonderful despite being a Bush I appointee, and Breyer is also good.

[galaxy21]

20. I think Breyer just wants to retire

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. I think anyone who chooses to go should be allowed to.

[aquart]

22. No, I'd like Thomas, Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, and that other jerk to step down.

All at once. And then they could leave for Paraguay.

[Jack Rabbit]

23. I'd prefor Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas step down

[TahitiNut]

26. (self-delete)

(DU software screwup)

[TahitiNut]

27. In order of age ... Stevens, Ginsberg, Scalia, and Kennedy.

John Paul Stevens is 88 years old ... left.
Ruth Bader Ginsberg is 75 years old .. left.
Antonin Scalia is 72 years old .. far right.
Anthony Kennedy is 72 years old .. middle-right.
Stephen Breyer is 70 years old .. middle-left.
David Souter is 69 years old .. middle-left.

[jmowreader]

28. This could be entertaining...all NINE of them step down in the next four years

Imagine a Supreme Court where someone with the political leanings of Bill Clinton is the farthest-right member, and where all nine of them were chosen by a good president.

[sl8]

29. Any four Justices stepping down on the same day ...

would be extraordinary.

Your scenario would leave a Court consisting of Alito, Kennedy, Roberts, Scalia and Thomas until four more Justices could be nominated and confirmed.

Are you kidding?

[liberalpragmatist]

30. Stevens will retire

He's 87. Ginsberg may also retire within this term or, if Obama wins reelection, in Obama's next term, as she's in her late 70s and has had a bout of cancer.

There's actually a decent amount of speculation that Souter may retire too -- he's relatively young, but he reportedly is tired of the court and ready to leave.