Scalia's death means loss of key vote in divided cases

Associated Press ^ | Mark Sherman

[Coronal]

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Antonin Scalia's death deprives conservatives of a key vote that could change the outcome in some major Supreme Court cases, including one in which labor unions appeared headed for a big defeat.

Next month's Supreme Court arguments in a clash over contraceptives, religious liberty and President Barack Obama's health care law also now seem more likely to favor the Obama administration.

It's a firm Supreme Court rule that decisions are not final until they are handed down. So nothing Scalia did or said in pending cases matters to the outcome.

"The vote of a deceased justice does not count," veteran Supreme Court lawyer Roy Englert said Sunday, a day after Scalia was found dead in his room at a west Texas ranch.

[GOPJ]

S.RES. 334. EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT THE PRES. SHOULD NOT MAKE RECESS APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUPREME COURT, EXCEPT TO PREVENT OR END A BREAKDOWN IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COURT’S BUSINESS. KEATING MOTION TO RECOMMIT TO JUDICARY COMM.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/votes/86-1960/s415

Oh - and there’s this cutie Schumer thing :

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/schumer-in-2007-dont-confirm-any-bush-supreme-court-nominee/article/2583283

[NormsRevenge]

A most convenient passing.. for the Left and its hateful agenda.

no autopsy only adds fuel to the flames of the fire that is burning this Republic down to its very foundations.. and beyond.

[Scirparius]

I don't believe it makes any difference whether Scalia's replacement is appointed by a Democrat or a Republican president. It's one party pretending to struggle against itself to give us masses some bread and circuses, to distract us from the ever-growing corruption in government. Even if the most conservative and originalist judge ever was appointed, he/she would never make it through the confirmation process.

The game is rigged.

[combat_boots]

Remember this? Late last year: “We have 3 judges ready to go” - Valerie Jarrett

[Harpotoo]

And died with a pillow over his head? WTF!

[uncitizen]

And yet Jeb says it’s not important to him.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Now we know who staffs the Editor of the Completely Effing Obvious desk at the AP.

[ryan71]

This really smells...

[Texas Eagle]

What are they talking about? Libturds still have a 5-3 if not a 6-2 advantage.

The loss of Scalia only gives Roberts, Souter and Kennedy less cover to pretend they are anywhere near Constitutionalists.

[grumpygresh]

0bama has every reason to order the hit.

[RIghtwardHo]

You are spot on my friend. The game is horribly rigged.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

What a fortuitous opportunity for the Left.

Almost by design.

Hey, you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet.

And, PLEASE, do NOT accept the narrative that we have to pick someone this year.

The Dems passed the resolution that a USSC cannot be appointed during an election year.

Burn them with their own rules.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

including one in which labor unions appeared headed for a big defeat.

And that one is brutal - so much of the Democrats' power comes from public union funding coerced from union members, whether they want to or not. It looked like that was going to go down to defeat, but with Scalia gone, forget it.

[Slambat]

Mark Sherman was first in line to get brains but he was so nice he held the door for everyone else.

“Justice Antonin Scalia’s death deprives conservatives of a key vote that could change the outcome in some major Supreme Court cases”

Bush took care of that when he snuck in that fake conservative Roberts.