Posted on 10/29/2004 10:21:46 PM PDT by w6ai5q37b
Published October 28, 2004 ASSOCIATED PRESS
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor yesterday extolled the growing role of international law in U.S. courts, saying judges would be negligent if they disregarded its importance in a post-September 11 world of heightened tensions.
In a 15-minute speech at Georgetown law school, Justice O'Connor made no mention of the health of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, 80, who was hospitalized this week for thyroid cancer and is expected to return to work Monday.
Justice O'Connor said the Supreme Court is increasingly taking cases that demand a better understanding of foreign legal systems. A recent example was last term's terror cases involving the U.S. detention of foreign-born detainees at U.S. Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, she said.
"International law is no longer a specialty. ... It is vital if judges are to faithfully discharge their duties," Justice O'Connor told attendees at a ceremony dedicating Georgetown's new international law center.
"Since September 11, 2001, we're reminded some nations don't have the rule of law or [know] that it's the key to liberty," she said. Later this term, the Supreme Court will decide the constitutionality of executing juvenile killers. The case has attracted wide interest overseas, with many foreign nations filing briefs pointing to international human rights norms as a justification for outlawing the practice.
Justice O'Connor, who is expected to be a pivotal vote, didn't mention the case, but said recognizing international law could foster more civilized societies in the United States and abroad.
IMPEACH SANDY
We have a government riddled with traitors. How can our nation survive?
Ronald Reagan's worst mistake as President. By far.
Just another reason NOT to have an America-doubting "internationalist" as President, nominating Supreme Court Justices even more likely to be of like (non-American, internationalist) mind.
Whenever I see this crap about international law, I ask myself, who makes up these laws? What int'l body, what legislature? Does it include the 30 muslim dictatorships in the UN who don't allow voting or women to show their faces?
She's using her oath as toilet paper.
I'm with you, her talk scared me.
Impeach this traitorous BI*CH...it's time to march on DC with pitchforks if we have to.
No doubt! She has just openly violated her oath.
Hey Sandddraaa... I think you need to look over your job description again you fool.
I guess she's jockeying for an appointment to the World Court or sumfn
If we had a Congress with some spine they'd impeach her for lack of "good behavior" the first time she used foreign precedent.
The problem with our activist Judiciary is due to a lack of Congressmen who will do their job.
O'Connor has been deteriorating for several years now. I wouldn't be surprised if staff has to follow her around in case she soils herself. Damn shame - - she was once a competent and thoughtful jurist who took the US Constitution seriously.
Has anyone checked her for Alzheimer's?
Because she knows nothing will happen to her. This country is going to fall apart if we don't get back to having some standards
That is the scariest thing I have ever heard.
This is just another reason why we so desparately need more "strict constructionists" on the Supreme Court.
We're just way too old fashioned...They're way ahead of us on this...They're even building new buildings to teach this stuff to unsuspecting students who are growing up to be 'international lawyers'...
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