The Justices work closely together day in and day out for decades. The see each other as often as they see their families, They would KNOW if something was up.
What old fashioned out dated junk policy is this USSC Justice “for life”?
Appoint for vacancies for a term of 25 years. Put a limit on it. The end. Done. A SC Justice is not some medyevil monarch or corporate CEO holding on for “my dynasty” or something!
Get new blood after 25 years. Change the rules. Its bizarre.
Imagine is airline pilots or Army Generals and Admirals were lifetime appointments.
Yes, understood.
However, if the Juctices KNOW she is unwell or maybe using artificial means to keep her breathing, what then? Seriously. Would the Justices come out with a unified stance revealing RGB is mentally and physically unwell. Given the times we are in, it would not surprise me if the liberal justices would refuse to back any effort to replace her—even if brain dead or physically unable to exist as an engaged person. I think they would only come out if she passes.
At any rate, she is unable to do the job in Court, why have oral arguments at all if she (and all Juctices) can phone it in, never hearing the tone and inflection of the lawyers and other Justices and just rely on transcripts and Judicial staff.
There is something to be said about direct engagement with the appellates, the banter back and forth, exploring directly the issues known and those that arise when engaged in oral argument.
Cheers