NationStates Jolt Archive


Question about the Supreme Court

No Cream and No Sugar
04-12-2004, 03:47
Okay, the current break-down of the US Supreme Court is 3-3-1 (Sandra Day O'Connor being the swing vote). Now, I've been hearing a lot of people worrying that Bush will replace Rehnquist with a right leaning, anti-abortion, turn-back-the-clock demonic kook.

Now, my question is: so what? Rehnquist is a strong, right-leaning conservative. If he's replaced with a conservative, nothing's changed. The only way the balance will dramatically shift is if Souter, Ginsberg, or Breyer are replaced. Right now, Rehnquist is the only one who can't hold out for four years.

Hyperventalating over the possibilty of a right-wing justice being replaced by another right-wing justice seems a little silly to me. Sure, it won't move the court to the left, but it won't move it to the right either, and it certainly won't overturn Roe v. Wade.
DeaconDave
04-12-2004, 03:49
there are nine justices, not seven.
Hobbslandia
04-12-2004, 11:18
The concern is that over the next 4 years possibly 3 or 4 of the Judges may need to be replaced, and given the possible length of tenure for a Supreme Court Justice that could mean a drastic swing to the far right for a long time.
Personally I think Supreme Court Justices should be elected every 8 years.