DRAMA EXPECTED MONDAY IN U.S. SUPREME COURT

The Iowa Channel ^ | 06/28/2005 | Iowa Channel

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Drama Expected Monday In U.S. Supreme Court

POSTED: 6:57 am CDT June 26,

2005

UPDATED: 9:54 pm CDT June 26,

2005

WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush is preparing for what could be his first Supreme Court vacancy.

With the High Court term due to end Monday and 80-year-old Chief Justice William Rehnquist battling cancer, speculation is rife he'll announce his retirement.

Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

If he does, spokesman Scott McClellan said the president will be ready. He said officials have "prepared for that scenario" -- as any White House would.

Last week, Senate Democrats sent a letter to Bush urging him to choose a "consensus" nominee for any Supreme Court vacancy.

McClellan said Bush is prepared to hear the views of all senators -- but only after an opening actually occurs.

Public's Support For Court Takes Hit

A Pew Research poll released June 15 found 57 percent of respondents still have a favorable view of the U.S. Supreme Court.

That marks an erosion, because for more than a decade, at least seven in 10 people viewed the court favorably.

After the court ruled that President George W. Bush won the 2000 election, 68 percent had a favorable view.

But Democrats grew more negative after that ruling. Now, 51 percent of Democrats have a positive view of the court.

The poll also found favorable opinions of the high court have dropped by 20 points among conservative Republicans and white evangelical Christians since January 2001.

Conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are most likely to say the selection of the next Supreme Court justice is very important to them personally.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

BUMP

[Terpfen]

After the court ruled that President George W. Bush won the 2000 election, 68 percent had a favorable view.

Damnit, MSM, get it right for once. The Supreme Court ruled that a Florida Supreme Court-ordered recount was illegal. Bush had already won.

[Thinkin' Gal]

High Court to End Term With Big Decisions

By GINA HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer Sat Jun 25,10:29 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ends its work Monday with the highest of drama: an anticipated retirement, a ruling on the constitutionality of government Ten Commandments displays and decisions in other major cases.

Traditionally there is an air of suspense as the justices meet for the final time before breaking for three months. Justices usually wait until then to resolve blockbuster cases.

Added to that is the expectation that Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist is presiding over the court for the last time. Rehnquist has thyroid cancer and many court experts believe his retirement is imminent.

"There's enormous drama and anticipation. Is he going to announce his resignation? Are we going to spend this summer in a confirmation fight?" said Erwin Chemerinsky, a Duke law professor.

Long lines have formed several hours before the court's recent sessions so people could get a seat in the packed courtroom. On Monday, the crowd will include supporters and opponents of Ten Commandments monuments. Supporters usually gather outside the court praying and singing hymns.

"It's a big day. History being made, that's a lot of what it's about," said Maureen Mahoney, a Washington lawyer and former Rehnquist law clerk.

Also expected are nine women in judicial robes who call themselves "Roe Rangers," to bring attention to uncertainty about the court's makeup and abortion rights.

Justices have a few cases left to resolve, including two of the most-watched of the term: the Ten Commandments appeals from Texas and Kentucky and a case that will determine the liability of Internet file-sharing services for clients' illegal swapping of songs and movies.

Also Monday, justices are expected to announce whether they will hear appeals from two journalists who may face jail time for refusing to reveal sources in the leak of an undercover CIA officer's identity.

Lawyers for Time magazine's Matthew Cooper and The New York Times' Judith Miller have asked the court to clarify protections reporters have in keeping sources confidential. The cases could not be heard until December.

The Supreme Court term already has covered cases involving the execution of teenage killers, state bans on Internet orders from out-of-state wineries and federal sentencing rules.

Overshadowing it all, however, has been Rehnquist's health and questions about the future of the court, which has not had a vacancy for 11 years, a modern record.

"More people are paying attention to the court than they have in years even though the docket has not been earthshaking," said Vikram Amar, a law professor at the University of California, Hastings and a former Supreme Court clerk. "It changes the importance of this year in Supreme Court history."

In addition to Rehnquist, 80, older members of the court include Justice Rehnquist was absent from the bench for five months after disclosing in October that he had cancer. He has refused to say whether he has the most serious type of thyroid cancer. He speaks with difficulty because of a trachea tube inserted to help him breathe.

"One or two justices may announce their retirement on Monday. Or none may," said Suzanna Sherry, a law professor at Vanderbilt University who specializes in the Supreme Court. "In the past there has not been this kind of anticipation."

Rehnquist could announce his decision at the Monday morning session. He could wait until later in the day after justices hold their last private meeting of the term. He could wait until later in the week, after the crowds have left the court.

The final rulings of the term often come down to 5-4 votes. Sometimes, justices who dissent read objections from the bench.

"It's a zoo," veteran Supreme Court lawyer Carter Phillips said of final ruling days.

The Ten Commandments issue has gotten the most attention, in part because it has been 25 years since the court last dealt with it.

Justices ruled then that the Ten Commandments could not be displayed in public schools. Now they will decide if a granite monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol and framed copies of commandments in two Kentucky courthouses are allowed.

Rulings are also awaited in a Tennessee death penalty case, an appeal that will decide police departments' liability for not enforcing restraining orders, and a challenge to the tight control cable companies hold over high-speed Internet service.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050626/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_dramatic_end_5

Commandment X:

Exodus 20:17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Now why would they want THAT displayed?

[little jeremiah]

Excellent point. Of course they won't want it displayed. I am very sick at heart about the SCOTUS' decisions lately.

[Colonel_Flagg]

After the court ruled that President George W. Bush won the 2000 election, 68 percent had a favorable view.

Good thing there's no media bias, huh? The Supreme Court made no such ruling. It did rule that the Florida Supreme Court was in error.

[paudio]

...dropped by 20 points among conservative Republicans and white evangelical Christians since January 2001.

There isn't enough information in the article to compare this with the erosion among the liberal democrats for the same period. My guess, the number will be somewhat similar to the white conservatives'.

[basil]

I, too, am sickened by several recent decisions of the Supreme Court's rulings, especially the decision announced in the past week.

I would love to see a fresh poll done this week, following that ruling! I would imagine that the approval rate has dropped considerably.

[TheDon]

If they want to cause a firestorm, 4 of them could retire simultaneously.

[oblomov]

They ought to ban display of the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence at the National Archives and in libraries while they're at it. It's not like they care what those documents say, either. They are too busy following the UN Declaration of Human Rights and the Zimbabwe Constitution.

[Ciexyz]

Looking forward to Monday's Supreme Court update with anticipation.

[oblomov]

Since we are goverened by polls rather than constitutional authority now, will we get a new government when the poll numbers get to 0% approval?

Because our rulers are doing a good job of getting it there.

[streetpreacher]

You really are a thinkin' gal... good one!

[vpintheak]

I see, It's all because they ruled in favor of President Bush in 2000 huh? These libs just can't get past it can they.

[VeniVidiVici]

Pick me! Pick me!

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

After last week's insane Robin Hood-in-reverse ruling on private property and a number of previous rulings in favor of violent criminals, nothing the Supreme Court comes out with in its final day will matter much to me. The high court is in desperate need of fresh blood. The court has too many elite liberal snobs who care only about themselves.

If the relatively conservative Rehnquist resigns, there won't be much to gain for Republicans. But there will be plenty to lose if the so-called compassionate one gives us another Souter or another Kennedy.

[WFTR]

I think one possible candidate would be John Danforth. He was a senator, and he might not get too much flak from people with whom he'd served in the Senate. He may be someone who is respected widely enough to step into the Chief Justice's position without too much controversy.

[liberty2004]

I think one possible candidate would be John Danforth

Sorry, I feel anyone who has ever been in the Senate is corrupted in the mind. I have zero respect for most senators. Danforth is a wonderful person, but no way do I want him on the SC. I truly fear he would be left leaning. He doesn't have the the love of Liberty burning in his soul. I would love to see Janice Rogers Brown nominated to the high court. She "gets it" about Liberty and limited government. Danforth has not had the "rough" life to understand the how truly evil government can become -- as ours is becoming because of the evil left.

[backhoe]

-Men(ace) in Black? SCOTUS goes Rogue...--