Who would appoint the best Supreme Court Justices and why?

[ruggerson]

Poll question: Who would appoint the best Supreme Court Justices and why?

I think we have a number of candidates who are in a position to appoint excellent SC Justices.

Biden, with his many years of experience on the Judiciary Committee.

Obama, with his background of having taught constitutional law.

Edwards, who obviously is very aware of why it's vital for citizens to have a venue to redress their grievances against corporations and the government.

Clinton, who also taught law and had historical experience serving on the House Judiciary Committee staff during the impeachment of Nixon.

Richardson, the only one with executive experience - who has actually had to appoint judges as Governor of New Mexico.

[Kucinich4America]

1. Dennis Kucinich

Solid Liberal judges to balance out the Bush Crime Family appointees.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

2. For my tastes, probably Biden

Obama respects accademics and would appoint smart but somewhat independent-minded justices. Someone like Lawrence Tribe is brilliant and liberal, but enough of an abstract academic that he would make some eccentric and possibly quite disagreeable judgments. (Tribe is merely an example... I doubt any of them would appoint Tribe because he would be very difficult to get on the SC)

Hillary would appoint mainstream uninteresting liberal justices... less intellectually independent, but people who will reliably uphold and expand the liberal range of existing judicial opinion.

Biden would probably split the difference.

(In terms of people on the SC, I would think Obama-Breyer, Hillary-Ginsberg, Biden-Stevens)

[maximusveritas]

7. I agree with that reasoning

Of course, my tastes align more closely with Breyer than the others, so I would prefer Obama's pick. But I'd be happy with any of them.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

10. I'm a Stevens man

Breyer is a bit too pragmatic for me. (Like if O'Connor was brilliant and a liberal.)

As a civil liberties nut, I like someone like Stevens who is pretty normal on property and statutory interpretation and all that stuff that makes up 90% of decisions, but a firebrand on the Bill of Rights.

[ruggerson]

11. I would like another William Brennan myself

[Fried Bread]

12. Tribe would fly through confirmation.

He's respected on both sides of the aisle and has taught some of the Senators themselves (he's been teaching at Harvard Law for many years). He won't be nominated however, because he is almost 70 years old. THAT is the reason you won't see him on the court. For current academics who WILL get a very close look, see Elena Kagan, Harold Koh, Lawrence Lessig et al. all who are in their late 40's, early 50's.

[ruggerson]

13. Tribe is a lightning rod

I don't think he'd fly at all. The uber rightwing hierarchy would turn him into a cause celebre - their Robert Bork.

But, as you say, he's too old now anyway.

I want to see the first pick be a thirty nine year old black woman. :)

[Fried Bread]

14. He's comparable to RB Ginsburg IMO

Both very liberal, both old. The GOP would realize he can't be on the court for that long, as he is already quite old, and likely vote to confirm. It's hard to argue the man's credentials, and Dems have control of the Senate. I do not think it would be a problem. Now, were he about 20 years younger, you would see a hell of a fight.

[tritsofme]

3. They would all be picking out of the same pot.

Not very many people are qualified to be Supreme Court justices, I would imagine the differences between Democratic candidates in this regard to be negligible.

[ruggerson]

4. Actually

a visionary President could pick someone who isn't an appellate judge or a state supreme court judge. They could go with a well known and well respected former governor or senator (George Mitchell or Mario Cuomo, as an example).

[tritsofme]

5. And he could end up being very dissapointed.

With the GOP's past experience with Warren and Souter, I can't imagine a president would take a gamble on any SCOTUS pick these days.

[ruggerson]

8. or pleasantly surprised

Souter wasn't in the mode of an outsider. He was a sitting Judge in NH. And Burger was a sitting federal appellate judge when appointed.

Neither of them were picks from outside the judicial sphere. As I've said, a visionary President could think outside the box.

[tritsofme]

9. I meant to say Earl Warren, not Burger.

nt

[Fried Bread]

15. George Mitchell and Mario Cuomo? Hope you're joking....

Those guys are dinosaurs. You say you wan't another Brennan? Brennan was on the court for 40 years! Mitchell and Cuomo are near death. Notice how the GOP appoints federal judges really young? George Mitchell is old enought to be CJ John Roberts' dad.

[ruggerson]

17. I was using them as examples of people outside the Justice system

I agree they're too old.

[gateley]

6. BIden says if a candidate didn't support Roe v Wade, s/he wouldn't be considered.

He also said that his first appointment would be a woman.

[snowbear]

16. I'd have to say that anyone of our candidates would do a great job..

.. ANY of them!

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