Thursday, April 30, 2009

Justice David Souter to Resign From the Supreme Court...Is It Time for Obama to Repay The Black Community?




Saw this on Rachel Maddow. Considering he's been a dependable 4 in most 5-4 decisions on 'liberal' issues, I guess replacing him with someone younger would be a positive.

Bank on this: the next Justice of the Supreme Court will be a Latino.


UPDATE: talking with others, this has come up:

Myth has been very passionate about this subject, and I can’t fault her reasoning:

Craig told me to stop talking about it until there was a vacancy, well its time. Obama pay up to black women, whom he owes most. Its time for a Supreme Court Queen…............
African Americans have NO representation on the US Supreme Court. Period. It’s time to cash in our election chips and demand that Obama acknowledge the AA community and this impact on his election. The Hispanic community will just have to wait their turn. (Don’t even mention Unca Clarence cause he is not black).


Can’t argue with that.

So, if you think it should be A Black Woman….who are some possibilities?

1 comment:

Brian said...

I don't think race should be the test at all.... I'm more concerned with the independence and common sense of the nominee. Black folks always want to apply a racial test. Sometimes it's warranted... but not right now. And I don't think Obama owes Blacks anything....not in terms of a Supreme Court justice. And if you simply use race as the test, then you could be fed another Clarence Thomas. I'd rather have a Progressive leaning/Independent White, Asian or Hispanic nominee, than a moderate Black one. By trying to reach for the Middle....Obama could end up picking a Black nominee who could end up being the Democratic version of David Souter (turning out to be Conservative). Blacks shouldn't be blinded by skin pigmentation.

That being said...I wouldn't mind seeing an Hispanic getting an opportunity.

I do think there could possibly be an opening for another Black Justice.... Blacks shouldn't push Obama regarding the race of the new nominee. For one thing... there will be another opening soon when Ginsburg retires. Obama will appoint at least 2 if not 3 justices (if he's re-elected)... so Black folks should be patient...i'd rather see Obama make a careful choice...rather than a hasty decision that folks will regret later on.

I was also hoping that Obama would not pick a politician. The last thing we need is the Supreme Court being politicized directly by implanting politicians. The candidate should have experience as a Judge (State or Federal).
But the Senate is pushing him in that direction by suggesting that he choose a politician to fill the vacancy.

I heard Chuck Todd give a crazy, irrational analysis about why there should be politicians on the Supreme Court... he said something to the effect that "Judges should know what it is like to feel the pressures of elected office holders... or that Judges would be less activist if there was political pressure.."

NONSENSE!!! Where was Chuck Todd during Government Class? He completely misses the point for why the Supreme Court is set up the way that it is.... Judges should not have to feel the pressures of elected office.... because they should be free to make decisions based on facts and the law.... without regard to any political influence. There is a specific reason why these are lifetime appointments.