A 90 year old Supreme Court justice is unacceptable

[apples and oranges]

I'm not ageist, but 90 years old? That's ridiculous! They should institute forced retirements by age 75.

[sharesunited]

1. By "institute," I think that means a Constitutional amendment.

And it's not a "they," it's an "us."

[MicaelS]

24. Yes...

I'm in favor of a Constitutional Amendment that states any specific Federal Judge or Justice appointment be a single, 20 year, nonrenewable term. They get appointed to a new position, the clock starts again.

That way andy Administration would know well in advance who was going to retire and then could plan their list of appointees, without all the guessing games of "When is XXXX going to retire?"

[Poll_Blind]

2. When you hit 90 do you automatically lose your mind or something? n/t

PB

[maxsolomon]

5. it's not automatic, but it's common.

that or you're dead.

he hung on through the * regime till a dem. was in office. he's a good american.

[closeupready]

12. This.

+1000

[Ozymanithrax]

3. Are you saying that Stevens intellectual prowess and defense of the law...

are lacking?

Why, if he can do the job (and he has done it very well) should he be forced to retire?

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Why? Maybe you are an ageist.

[onenote]

6. why is it ridiculous?

And yes you are ageist.

Why shouldn't someone with more life experience be disqualified from being on the court. Personally, part of Stevens' strength as a Justice is that he remembers first hand a portion of the nation's history that the other Justices only know about from books and are less likely to be as sensitive towards.

[joeybee12]

7. At 90, Stevens has a clearer mind than say a 60-year-old Scalia...

...yeah, your comments are ageist.

[WilliamPitt]

8. (facepalm)

[DavidDvorkin]

9. Clearly you are ageist

"I'm not a racist, but ... "

[AngryAmish]

10. I would like to see a 18 year term limit

And the term end in an off election year.

But that pesky Constitution is in the way...

[MineralMan]

11. Really? Justice Stevens has always seemed to be

very intelligent and thoughful. But, hey, thanks for your concern about this.

[David__77]

13. It's NOT age that concerns me, but length of service.

I am not generally supportive of term limits, but I think with an unelected position, reasonable limits on length of service would be an important safeguard against caprice.

[Ishoutandscream2]

14. Apples, I have met some brilliant men and women

Mid 80's to 90. That would include my late grandfather. I think you can't put an absolute on this.

[Toucano]

15. Hogwash! n/t

[Blue-Jay]

16. Horseshit.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. This one lived for four years after retiring

at age 90--- back in the 1930s when there were far fewer nonagenarians.

[LynneSin]

18. So when a republican is in the White House like George W. Bush

We should force Stevens to resign - thus guarenteeing a right-wing numbskull be picked.

If all presidents picked on skill & knowledge of the law I would have no issue with this but republicans pick on who will advance their right-wing agenda.

[Statistical]

19. "I'm not ageist".... Well no you are.

Still "forced retirement" of Justices for life would require either murder or Constitutional amendment.

Get started on the method you prefer.

[Statistical]

20. So it would have been better if 3 of 4 liberal justices were forced to retire under Bush.

Thus he could have packed the court with 3 more conservatives.

Changing the makeup from 4-4-1 to 7-1-1.


Yeah I am sure that would have worked out great.

Hell if I was President I would then nominate a Justice who is 30 years old to ensure the packed court will never change for a couple decades.

[lumberjack_jeff]

21. Of course you're ageist.

Otherwise, your entire post is one big oxymoron.

[kestrel91316]

22. Nothing in the Constitution says anything about limiting the age of SC justices.

Why do you hate the Constitution?

[zorahopkins]

23. Unacceptable

Here is what is unacceptable:

Suggesting that age should ever be a factor in determining whether someone should serve on the Supreme Court.

What counts is ABILITY -- not age, but ABILITY.

There are plenty of people older than 75 who are ABLE to serve.

I really, really resent any notion that suggests the old people CANNOT serve.

(I do understand that there are some jobs that require retirement at certain ages, but a Supreme Court Justice should NOT be among them!)

Posts like this make me SO MAD!!!!