The Supremes

[ooga booga]

I thought I'd give y'all a rundown on the Supreme Court. As always, choosing a president potentially has a direct effect on the Supreme Court and a certain effect of the rest of the federal bench. I am concerned that Justice Stevens is about to be 88 years old and the next oldest justice is Justice Ginsberg who's a Clinton nominee.

Check it out:

John Roberts - DOB 1/27/55 - started 2005 - President Bush (43)
John Paul Stevens - DOB 4/20/20 - started 1975 - President Ford
Antonin Scalia - DOB 3/11/36 - started 1986 - President Reagan
Anthony Kennedy - DOB 7/23/36 - started 1988 - President Reagan
David Souter - DOB 9/17/39 - started 1990 - President Bush (41)
Clarence Thomas - DOB 6/23/48 - started 1991 - President Bush (41)
Ruth Bader Ginsberg - DOB 3/15/33 - started 1993 - President Clinton
Stephen Breyer - DOB 8/15/38 - started 1994 - President Clinton
Samuel Alito - DOB 4/1/50 - started 2006 - President Bush (43)

[PoiBoy]

1. Good point, OB...

the next President will appoint two.., maybe three of the next Supremes... let a Red Prez make those choices and there goes any bit of a Progressive agenda for the next generation at least...

[BlueManDude]

2. a perfect time to nominate someone whom half the country despises.

[ooga booga]

3. Every Presidential Election, the Supremes come to mind to me

The Supremes are just the most visible part of the Federal Judiciary. The president, whoever that is, nominates ALL of them and they're ALL LIFETIME appointments.

If you're of a certain age, you may remember the Reagan's nomination of Robert Bork. The Senate did not confirm him. He was more or less another Antonin Scalia. The man is STILL bitter about not being on the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, he made it to the Court of Appeals, one rung below. The point is the president has the ability to get his/her choices onto the Federal bench somewhere.

The questions are:

Who do you want to make those nominations?

Who do you think can win the election in order to be able to make nominations?


I imagine that Justice Stevens will want to step down soon. Since he's been soldiering on since 1975 and through this current administration, I think he's trying to outlast Bush 43. I heard on NPR once that he works mainly in Florida and only comes up to Washington for command performances.