Why didn't Thurgood Marsahll step down when Carter was POTUS?

[LeftyAndProud60]

And is Ginsburg making the same mistake?

[madinmaryland]

1. Can you provide a little more information?

[LeftyAndProud60]

3. Jimmy Carter was POTUS. Thurgood Marshall waited too long to step down. End of story.nt

[madinmaryland]

6. Unfortunately, that's a very simplistic view of things. Hindsight from 30+ years

is a perfect 20/20. And would a replacement of Thurgood Marshall have been better? We could have ended up with someone much worse.

Think about Bush the first who appointed one of the most liberal judge and then appointed the replacement for Marshall. It was a completely different situation 20-40 years ago.

[LeftyAndProud60]

7. He didn't pick a liberal. He just picked someone who understood law and didn't try to change it from

the bench. Unlike the activist conservatives now. Thomas included. Carter wouldn't have appointed anyone worse than Thomas.

[madinmaryland]

8. Obviously, Thomas is NOT a liberal. What would you classify David

Souter as? Not an activist jurist or conservative jurist by any means.

[LeftyAndProud60]

9. That's what I meant. Souter would probably still describe himself as conservative. That was luck for

us how that turned out. Didn't BUsh consider that a mistake? Souter followed and interpreted the law the way it should be. He didn't try to make new laws based on his political views was my point. Thank god for that man. I still believe he waited Bush out just because he didn't want to see him appoint another nut like the others. Roberts included.


Souter is a national hero. Ruth needs to follow his lead and stop being selfish.

[usregimechange]

2. Yes, she is.

[enlightenment]

4. Mistake??

Crimey. The woman is 77 years old. Last June, she lost her husband to cancer three days after their 56th wedding anniversary. She has battled colon cancer and is currently fighting pancreatic cancer.

If she is choosing to step down, so be it. It may not be a politically perfect moment - but it's HER life.

Mistake. geeze.

[LeftyAndProud60]

5. I hope you're happy when Robert Bork IV replaces her. NT

[iris27]

10. I think the OP is saying the mistake is that she's NOT stepping down now,

under Obama. As you mention, she's certainly faced a lot of trauma in the last few years, and we could understand her toughing it out if we had a Republican president, to ensure she wouldn't be replaced by another Roberts or Alito. But now? It just leaves some folks scratching their heads in confusion.

[mr_liberal]

11. She has already said she will retire

in 5 years, right in the middle of the next presidents term. She mentioned an age; I dont remember what it was though.

[LeftyAndProud60]

12. exactly. It's kinda selfish IMO. NT

[mr_liberal]

13. Yes

She should retire this year.

You wont make people here understand that though, Ive already tried.

[William769]

14. Why should he have?

He stayed on the bench another 10 years after President Carter left office.

And as for Ginsburg it's not for us to decide, it's her choice. Call it one of the perks.

P.S. We could also probably have a Democratic President until January 2017.

[usregimechange]

15. It's too big of a risk imo and there is more at stake than a career choice for one person

[Tx4obama]

16. Ginsburg will retire during Pres Obama's 2nd term. Don't worry be happy! :) n/t