SCOTUS thread.

[Kilmer17]

I started to bring this up in the Obamacare thread, but think it needs it's own thread.

Which Justices over the last 50 years do you think have been the biggest disappointment to the President and Party that placed them on the bench and why?

I dont think Roberts should make the list, in spite of the timing. His deference to the powers of the Executive and Congress is not new.

I think the Obvious choice for the right would be Souter. An absolute Liberal Justice appointed by a Republican.

Has there been a similar Justice from the left?

[grhqofb5]

My view is that the appointment of justices should be a non-partisan issue. If a president is appointing a justice because he (she) believes that justice will tailor his/her judgment in a certain manner, then that person should not be appointed.

[MattFancy]

My view is that the appointment of justices should be a non-partisan issue. If a president is appointing a justice because he (she) believes that justice will tailor his/her judgment in a certain manner, then that person should not be appointed.

Couldn't agree more. Especially since the Justice is going to be around longer than the President more often than not.

[Kilmer17]

My view is that the appointment of justices should be a non-partisan issue. If a president is appointing a justice because he (she) believes that justice will tailor his/her judgment in a certain manner, then that person should not be appointed.

I think that ship sailed long ago.

[PeterMP]

I think Earl Warren and Warren Burger were both as big disappointments for the right as Souter.

[Kilmer17]

I think Earl Warren and Warren Burger were both as big disappointments for the right as Souter.

Sure. Add Blackmun and Stevens to the list as well.

Are there any from the left at all?

[zoony]

It's interesting to me that nothing other than abortion matters during the appointment process and nothing matters less after they are appointed

[Bang]

If a president or a party are disappointed because a justice they appointed choose doing their job properly over doing their job the way the party wants it done.. then good.
If a president or party is 'disappointed' by the work they do, then I want to see more and more presidents and parties disappointed by the court when it chooses to follow the law instead of their party. the SCOTUS has an enormous responsibility, and by and large I think each of them follows it.
To expect that they can be bought by allegiances to party is another slap in the face of what the country stands for.

It really seems to me over the last 24 hours or so that the 'activist judges' complaint we heard a few years ago only applied to liberal judges, and conservatives fully expect activist judgments in their favor.
Of course, anyone listening back then also knew that except the conservatives who ate it up and apparently do not have very long reaching memories.
(Either they don't remember, or they don't give a **** that anyone else remembers. I believe it's the latter. The hubris is astounding.)

One more reason why I hate this current GOP.
HATE.
The worst sort of hypocrites and liars. Power means all, even to the detriment of this country. There is no other goal.

~Bang

[Kilmer17]

If a president or a party are disappointed because a justice they appointed choose doing their job properly over doing their job the way the party wants it done.. then good.
If a president or party is 'disappointed' by the work they do, then I want to see more and more presidents and parties disappointed by the court when it chooses to follow the law instead of their party. the SCOTUS has an enormous responsibility, and by and large I think each of them follows it.
To expect that they can be bought by allegiances to party is another slap in the face of what the country stands for.

It really seems to me over the last 24 hours or so that the 'activist judges' complaint we heard a few years ago only applied to liberal judges, and conservatives fully expect activist judgments in their favor.
Of course, anyone listening back then also knew that except the conservatives who ate it up and apparently do not have very long reaching memories.
(Either they don't remember, or they don't give a **** that anyone else remembers. I believe it's the latter. The hubris is astounding.)

One more reason why I hate this current GOP.
HATE.
The worst sort of hypocrites and liars. Power means all, even to the detriment of this country. There is no other goal.

~Bang

Wow. You hate the GOP?

Didnt realize that.


The GOP has had more than enough opportunities to stack the Courts to enact the policies that they want. The fact that it hasnt happened, should make you pause and rethink your animosity . It's the Dem appointees to the Court that vote in lockstep with their party, not the GOP appointees.

[Elessar78]

It's interesting to me that nothing other than abortion matters during the appointment process and nothing matters less after they are appointed

That's a great observation. But that's the reality of it, I think. These justices probably don't give abortion much thought as a matter of law.

[Bang]

This CURRENT GOP, yes. I can find no redeeming quality.
The GOP i knew and belonged to is dead and gone.

I think the court should rise above the partisan politics. I think once they don their robes, they may maintain their ideology and of course their way of thinking, but I am gladdened that they also seem to be able to put it aside when it really matters.

I think their responsibility is higher than even the president, because the President must try to work with others to try and enact policy. But once it reaches them, it's completely on them as individuals. And obviously their own personal ideas will color their judgment, but that is all well known when they are presented for approval.
Justices don't just get put there, even if a sitting pres. appoints them. They must go thru a process to make sure everyone agrees they can sit there. I do believe in this process, and i think it has weeded out bad choices in the past.
And I think they do a decent job for the most part.

The screaming that Roberts is a traitor is very telling, IMO. The GOP support fully expected him to go party over country, and he went with what he thought was best. (Which up until yesterday was a mystery.)
It can be disagreed with, obviously, but the notion that somehow he betrayed his people to do ehat he felt was right under the law is bad on my stomach.

~Bang

[Kilmer17]

This CURRENT GOP, yes. I can find no redeeming quality.
The GOP i knew and belonged to is dead and gone.

I think the court should rise above the partisan politics. I think once they don their robes, they may maintain their ideology and of course their way of thinking, but I am gladdened that they also seem to be able to put it aside when it really matters.

I think their responsibility is higher than even the president, because the President must try to work with others to try and enact policy. But once it reaches them, it's completely on them as individuals. And obviously their own personal ideas will color their judgment, but that is all well known when they are presented for approval.
Justices don't just get put there, even if a sitting pres. appoints them. They must go thru a process to make sure everyone agrees they can sit there. I do believe in this process, and i think it has weeded out bad choices in the past.
And I think they do a decent job for the most part.

The screaming that Roberts is a traitor is very telling, IMO. The GOP support fully expected him to go party over country, and he went with what he thought was best.
It can be disagreed with, obviously, but the notion that somehow he betrayed his people to do it is bad on my stomach.

~Bang

You seek out and find the rancor within the GOP to support your preexisting hatred and biases.

There are plenty on the right who disagree with Roberts but arent calling him names.

Can you give an example of a time when the left wing went ballistic over the rulings of a Dem appointed Justice? Has it ever happened? Or do they strictly toe the party line?

[Bang]

You seek out and find the rancor within the GOP to support your preexisting hatred and biases.

There are plenty on the right who disagree with Roberts but arent calling him names.

Can you give an example of a time when the left wing went ballistic over the rulings of a Dem appointed Justice? Has it ever happened? Or do they strictly toe the party line?

I don't really care to play tit for tat.
My "pre-existing" hatred didn't exist previously.
Maybe you recall, I did vote for W and I supported much of what he did as president, mostly in regards to the war that everyone on the left hated. Did so quite publicly, right here on the site. Had knock down drag outs with Baculus, Predicto and Destino and other lefty heavyweights here on the board.

Previously in my life, I was a member of the Republican party. Previously, I championed their causes and ideals.
My shift to the left is relatively recent, like within the last 6 or so years.

I've never been a staunch anything.. I always try to allow for other ideas. This is no longer tolerable to most of the GOP. And so as a result, neither am I.

~Bang

[Kilmer17]

So this was just a drive by bump to make sure none of us somehow forgot you used to be in the GOP but now hate them.

Mission accomplished.

Back to the thread.

Are there any rulings by Dem appointed Justices that the left wing hate?

[Bang]

Sorry for the hijack. That wasn't really my intent.
Mostly what I wanted to say is I believe in the court.. I think those 9 take a deep responsibility, and sure they may vote along ideology at times, but they only do so when it's the right thing to do... mostly. No one's perfect.

~Bang