Who Are the Activist Judges? Supreme Court Edition

[Riddley Walker]

According to a study referenced in the New York Times on July 6, the judges who voted to strike down laws passed by Congress score as follows:

Clarence Thomas 65.63%, Kennedy 64.06%, Scalia 56.25%, Rehnquist 46.88%, O'Connor 46.66%, Souter 42.19%, Stevens 39.34%, Ginsburg 39.06%, and Breyer 28.13%.

This is based on the 64 instances of striking downs done since the Court assumed its current composition in 1994.

Interesting, no? Have you ever even heard the expression "conservative activist judge" before?

[Wesley Dodds]

Meh, they're just strict constructivist activists.

[Adam Crocker]

I've also heard the theory that a conservative judge would strike down more laws since they follow the constitution strictly they would allow less power to be accorded to the federal government. But really the list doesn't define their reasons for why, so it doesn't mean much to me. Nor does the term 'activist judge' for that matter.