Oct
22
2004
The Real Issue in the Election
10The Real Issue in the Election
The Supreme Court
The median age of the justices is 71. No spring chickens here except for Clarence Thomas, a mere stripling at 56. Here are the current justices.
Justice: Stephen Breyer
Appointed by: Clinton
Sworn in: 1980
Age: 66
Justice: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Appointed by: Carter
Sworn in: 1980
Age: 71
Justice: Anthony M. Kennedy
Appointed by: Ford
Sworn in: 1975
Age: 68
Justice: Sandra Day O'Connor
Appointed by: Reagan
Sworn in: 1981
Age: 74
Justice: William H. Rehnquist
Appointed by: Nixon
Sworn in: 1972
Age: 80
Justice: Antonin Scalia
Appointed by: Reagan
Sworn in: 1986
Age: 68
Justice: David H. Souter
Appointed by: Bush
Sworn in: 1990
Age: 65
Justice: John Paul Stevens
Appointed by: Ford
Sworn in: 1975
Age: 84
Justice: Clarence Thomas
Appointed by: Bush
Sworn in: 1990
Age: 56
It is very likely than multiple vacancies will occur on the Court in the next four years. The court will undoubtedly have to rule on cases involving abortion, the Patriot Act, and other divisive issues. If you are an undecided voter, think carefully about which candidate would make better appointments to the Supreme Court. Furthermore, a president makes far more appointment to the appellate courts than to the Supreme Court, and they hear far more cases per year. If you approve of the appointments Bush has made to the appellate courts, surely you want to give him the chance to make more. If you don't approve, maybe somebody else should be doing the appointing. The next president's appointments could shape the country for decades to come.
Do you want Hillary on the Supreme Court?
What They Said:
BBS says Hmmm on 10/24/2004
Mgmt says mmkay.. Try Again on 10/24/2004
Never Kerry, NEVER Liberal says the wife on 10/25/2004
BBS again says OK on 10/25/2004
sorry BBS.... says the wife on 10/26/2004
Mgmt says Your Security on 10/26/2004
LBF says Vote for Me on 10/26/2004
RantUser says IM is great on 10/26/2004
Doug says Supreme Court on 11/2/2004
Doug says Security on 11/2/2004
Well, if you live in Massachusetts, you have to get permission to defend yourself (and then get a really good lawyer, because you'll need one). Up here in N.H., we have better ways. Funny, the crime rate is much lower, too ...
10 Comments | Perm-a-link | 10/22/2004
