Posted on 11/10/2008 7:09:07 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
President-elect Barack Obama may have the rare chance to appoint two judges to the Supreme Court, giving the former law professor an opportunity to make a further lasting mark on American society.
Already observers are weighing in on what Obama could do in the key decision on replacements for the highest court in the land.
"It is quite likely he would choose a woman or a minority," said Nathaniel Persily, a law professor at Columbia University in New York.
"If he could find a Hispanic woman, that would be ideal, the best choice," he added.
Only two women have served on the Supreme Court, and two African-Americans have succeeded one another in the same seat, but never has an judge with a Latino background been appointed.
Hispanics are an ever-growing demographic in the United States, making up 15 percent of the population.
But beyond the race or sex of the candidate, observers are gearing up for appointments of politically progressive judges to the bench to replace the older liberals sitting on it today.
John Paul Stevens, appointed by president Gerald Ford, is 88 years old, and is expected to resign soon.
The nine justices are appointed for life.
Widely considered to be on the liberal side of the court, Stevens' replacement with another liberal would maintain the bench's fragile balance.
Currently four conservatives, four liberals, with the moderate Anthony Kennedy holding the middle ground, compose a balance Obama is expected to sustain.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 75, appointed by president Bill Clinton, is another liberal lifer also expected to resign within Obama's first term in office.
During Obama's campaign the Democrat hinted at what he expected of his appointees, and certainly could surprise conservative commentators expecting him to name someone more radical to the post.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I was actually about to specify handicapped until I saw you threw in paraplegic at the end.
The worst fears of ours about to become reality. Stevens and Ginsburg were hanging on just for this time. Hopefully that idiot Anthony Kennedy has enough sense to stay on.
A minimum of 2, most likely 3.
Since Obama gets to pick two, why not a married gay judge couple?
It would be historic.
A HUGE missed opportunity.
Make her blind and you got a deal.
Is Stevens a RINO?
If he is not a Dem, why wouldn’t he retire while Bush was still in office?
Probably a dumb question, but there it is.
OMG Affirmative action is alive and well.
I would say at least 3, maybe as many as 5.
Left out blind, midget, and bipolar.
The court is technically 7R-2D. Stevens is indeed a RINO. Only the 2D’s are Clintoon appointees. Stevens didn’t retire during Dubya’s term because he wanted a leftist replacement that only a moonbat rodent administration could provide.
Some say there is already one on the bench- SOuter. I don’t know.
How 'bout gettin' us a left-handed, red-headed, one-eyed, stuttering, transvestite-lesbian, Asian, co-joined "little person" with polio and acne for a Supreme?
At least an Hispanic judge would have an excuse for disregarding the constitution-— Its written in ENGLISH!
That'll be taking place right after the swine flyover.
that’s why i did not want a democrat to win the presidency.
I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but why is this not considered racist and sexist?
But some people here said "We don't care about having radicals on the Supreme Court" by staying at home. Thanks to their selfishness, we will all suffer.
They should be the first to suffer under the Obama administration.
He'll have the opportunity for two appointments by the end of January, 2009. As soon as he walks into the Oval Office after the inaugural parade, Stevens and Ginsberg will have their retirement announcements on his desk.
Hey, Barack... To the best of my knowledge, we've never had a left-handed dwarf as a Supreme Court Justice (physical dwarves, that is, not mental ones, so Souter doesn't count).
Grab your chance to really make history, BO baby, and nominate one of those... Or maybe a conjoined siamese twin pair - that would really be 'change', wouldn't it... Or, or, how about a Hispanic woman?
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