And so it begins: First of the liberal Supreme Court Judges to resign

[the4thpip]

And it's one of the "younger" ones:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire, giving President Barack Obama his first chance to make an appointment to the nation's highest court, a government official said.

The official, who requested anonymity, confirmed reports late on Thursday by NBC News and National Public Radio that Souter, one of the court's liberal members, would step down.

An appointment by Obama, a Democrat who praised the court's liberal-leaning members during his presidential campaign, would not be likely to shift the court's ideological balance of power.

But Obama could name a younger justice who could serve for decades -- beyond his own presidency even if that turned into two terms, or eight years.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090501/pl_nm/us_usa_court_souter_6

Any suggestions on who could be nominated?

[Corrina]

Bill Clinton!

:snerk:

No, seriously, Bill wouldn't find it exciting enough, anyway. Too much time in an office, not enough time charming the world.

No idea on a replacement. I'd say Obama already has a list of possible appointees though. He knew this might be coming and he probably compiled one as part of the transition. I'm guessing a woman, because he knows that Sandra Day O'Conner was disappointed when her post wasn't filled by another woman.

[KevinTBrown]

No idea of who Obama would pick, but Souter is more moderate than liberal.

Also, there's a very good chance 2 more Justices could retire in the next couple of years.

[the4thpip]

No idea of who Obama would pick, but Souter is more moderate than liberal.

Also, there's a very good chance 2 more Justices could retire in the next couple of years.

I am pretty sure all of the non-conservative judges will retire during Obama's first term. They are no spring chickens.

[KevinTBrown]

I am pretty sure all of the non-conservative judges will retire during Obama's first term. They are no spring chickens.

Very true.

Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito are all definitely conservative. Kennedy is conservative, but tends to lean with the liberals more.

Roberts is only in his 50s, so unless he has a major health issue, he's not retiring.

Scalia is in his mid-70s. He may retire in the next few years.

Thomas is 60, and, like Roberts, not retiring.

Alito turns 60 soon, also not retiring.

Kennedy is in his 70's, could retire.



So any Justices that may be leaving the court over the next couple of years will all more than likely be liberal or moderate. Ginsburg and Stevens being the likely retirees after Souter.

[the4thpip]

Very true.

Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito are all definitely conservative. Kennedy is conservative, but tends to lean with the liberals more.

Roberts is only in his 50s, so unless he has a major health issue, he's not retiring.

Scalia is in his mid-70s. He may retire in the next few years.

Thomas is 60, and, like Roberts, not retiring.

Alito turns 60 soon, also not retiring.

Kennedy is in his 70's, could retire.



So any Justices that may be leaving the court over the next couple of years will all more than likely be liberal or moderate. Ginsburg and Stevens being the likely retirees after Souter.

Unless there is some unforeseen health issue of one of the judges, only a possible second Obama term could give us a different majority in the Supreme court.

[Lester C.]

I don't see what the big deal is. We have a liberal president and a liberal congress so it should be no big deal t replace with another liberal judge.

[jerrymcl89]

I think Kennedy is the only one of the conservative justices who might voluntarily exit the court on Obama's watch, although Scalia is getting up there, and may not be able to outlast Obama if he gets re-elected.

I'm sure Stevens will leave the court one way or another during Obama's first term. Ginsberg seems to want to stay a while, but she is somewhat likely to do so as well. So Obama should at least be able to make the liberal wing of the court more durable, even if he makes it neither larger nor more liberal.

[Spiffy]

Retirement at 69, Souter?

Wimp!

Supreme Court justices are supposed to hang on by their fingernails until they implode into powder.

Souter is indeed a moderate (as much as the conversatives see him as a "traitor"), so this probably helps Obama, with a Senate who can help him appoint whoever he needs more than hurts him (thanks to Arlen Specter and Al Franken--the most unlikely tag team EVER).

[Lester C.]

Retirement at 69, Souter?

Wimp!

Supreme Court justices are supposed to hang on by their fingernails until they implode into powder.

Souter is indeed a moderate (as much as the conversatives see him as a "traitor"), so this probably helps Obama, with a Senate who can help him appoint whoever he needs more than hurts him (thanks to Arlen Specter and Al Franken--the most unlikely tag team EVER).

So did Franken finally get confirmed? I don't follow politics too closely but I would have remembered that.

[CaptainCanada]

So did Franken finally get confirmed? I don't follow politics too closely but I would have remembered that.
No, but it's only a matter of time at this point (sometime in June, probably, which is about the time that Souter leaves).

[Infra-Man]

Any suggestions on who could be nominated?

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo172/hvigilla/nightcourttvposter001.jpg

[Spiffy]

http://i373.photobucket.com/albums/oo172/hvigilla/nightcourttvposter001.jpg

Or

http://pretzelday.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/judge-judy.jpg

[Sean Walsh]

This is kind of surprising. Has a Supreme Court Justice ever retired so soon into an administration?

Not much of a story beyond the basic fact and headlines, though. It's not like Obama is gonna have to replace someone who will shift the balance - nor will the overall philosophy & voting patterns really change at all.

.....unless he doesn't nominate a liberal, that is.

[KevinTBrown]

This is kind of surprising. Has a Supreme Court Justice ever retired so soon into an administration?

Not much of a story beyond the basic fact and headlines, though. It's not like Obama is gonna have to replace someone who will shift the balance - nor will the overall philosophy & voting patterns really change at all.

.....unless he doesn't nominate a liberal, that is.

John Stevens was picked 5 months after Ford became President. The man he replaced was William Douglas who retired in November of '75, 4 months after Ford was sworn in.

So in answer to your question: No.

[buttler]

Heh. I was going to say Judge Judy, too.

But now I can't, so, um ... Judge Reinhold!

[KevinTBrown]

What about Christopher Judge?

http://stargatelevel28.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/tealc_s7.jpg

[Spiffy]

Old skool!

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/1/12/Judgewapner.jpg

He's 89 years young. He ought to fit right in on the Supreme Court...

[Bakasama]

Old skool!

http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/muppet/images/1/12/Judgewapner.jpg

He's 89 years young. He ought to fit right in on the Supreme Court...

Well, Obama did say he wanted a Justice that knew how the common man would think.

[Spackling Compound]

Well, Obama did say he wanted a Justice that knew how the common man would think.

I think gays would like some representation, however:

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/blink/2008/10/24/JudgeDavidYoungWithDog.jpg

[CaptainCanada]

This is kind of surprising. Has a Supreme Court Justice ever retired so soon into an administration?
Souter's wanted out for eight years, since Bush v. Gore; he just refused to quit with George W. Bush would nominate his replacement.

[the4thpip]

About a week before the White House announces President Obama's pick to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court, word is that Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano -- a former Arizona governor, attorney general and U.S. attorney -- is on the list of possible nominees.

Napolitano may not have been in Washington long, but she already seems to know that the quickest way to doom her chances would be to encourage the speculation. At a breakfast this morning sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor, a reporter tried to draw her out on the subject.

Question: I've got two questions; the first one is really easy. What's it like to be on the short list?

Answer: Man, these are really good eggs.


http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/

[buttler]

I heard Obama was going to nominate Mumia Abu-Jamal.

I guess that's what I get for watching Fox News.