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 ...
Lord, please let nothing happen to any of the fab four.
That's one reason that the SC nominations were not that big of an issue for me in this campaign.
Would I rather have had McCain making the selections than Obama? Sure.
But, the oldest justices are the most liberal. Chances are that any retirements will simply replace one liberal with another.
Long past that! Just an open Liberal.
1) Boy George
2) Pee Wee Herman
Obama throws a bone to the transgendered community.
My take on this from the other day (ahead of the MSM as usual) is here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2128330/posts
Based on their hiring criteria, a gay, black woman, or a transgendered hispanic, or a left-handed, red-headed Asian bisexual would be the perfect choice.
Based on their hiring criteria, a gay, black woman, or a transgendered hispanic, or a left-handed, red-headed Asian bisexual would be the perfect choice.
I don’t see Boy George getting it- he’s British. I think you have to be an American citizen to be appointed.
Of course, I thought you had to be an American citizen to be President, too, but not if the MSM covers foreign birth up.
So nice I said it twice.
Note to self: wait 45 seconds after clicking to post.
You forgot to make him/her handicapped.
Well, we do know that at least one has been putting off retirement specifically so that Bush wouldn’t have another appointee.
Not two - I’m betting he will nominate three... and one of them just might be Hillary... or so goes the story from her supporters who believe that was in a deal she made with the O.
However it turns out, we’ll see the court lurch hard left before this thing is over.
Lenin and Marx?
A terrible oversite on my part. If only Bush could have nominated a Pre-Proposition 8 married gay left handed red headed Asian Female paraplegic vegan atheist to the Supreme Court, his legacy as a uniter would have been assured.
“we do know that at least one has been putting off retirement specifically so that Bush wouldn’t have another appointee.”
Chances are it’s more than one.
Is that gang of 14 rule still in effect ...Are John McCain and Lindsey Graham still senators?
True. Lord knows we’ve had our share of Justices that didn’t turn out as planned.
Two ultra lib commies to replace two ultra lib commies.
Thank God we have Roberts, Alito, Thomas and Scalia.
The Presidents Bush did us proud.
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