Obama Supreme Court Pick Coming Soon, Pro-Abortion Diane Wood Front-Runner

Life News ^ | 5/25/09 | Steven Ertelt

[wagglebee]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- President Barack Obama is expected to name his replacement for retiring pro-abortion Supreme Court Justice David Souter. When he makes his nomination, which could come as early as Tuesday, pro-abortion 7th Circuit Court of Appeals judge Diane Wood has become the front-runner.

Wood is one of several pro-abortion judges or political figures observers have placed on Obama's likely short list of candidates. Over the weekend, she appeared to rise to the top of the list.

Wood is considered a top legal mind by left-wing political activists as someone who can counter the legal acumen of Supreme Court jurists like Chief Justice John Roberts and Antonin Scalia.

However, her personal connections to Obama and her gender are causing some to consider her the most likely pick.

Abortion advocates have been lobbying Obama to name a woman to replace Souter and join pro-abortion Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only other woman on the top court. But Wood's relationship with Obama -- she also taught law at the University of Chicago law school where Obama was a colleague until 2004 -- may put her in the catbird's seat.

Several top pro-life and conservative sources told LifeNews.com over the weekend that they believed Obama would select Wood.

If he does so, Obama will be picking an abortion advocate who pro-life organizations will strongly oppose.

As a member of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, she has a long history of taking the pro-abortion side when it comes to pro-life issues.

Wood ruled against bans on partial-birth abortion in cases involving legislation from Wisconsin and Illinois. She joined the federal court in ruling that Wisconsin's law was unconstitutional under the Supreme Court's first ruling on partial-birth abortions in 2000.

Judge Wood also ruled in favor of abortion advocates by allowing them to misuse the RICO law designed to control mob activities to sue pro-life protesters.

The Supreme Court twice overturned her opinion and, in February 2006, ruled a second time that federal racketeering laws used against mob bosses can't be used against pro-life advocates who protest abortions.

Wood kept alive the lawsuit against pro-life advocates even though the high court had already issued an 8-0 decision in their favor.

Joseph Scheidler, the defendant in the lawsuit, said after the decision that Wood "claimed an affiliation with Chicago NOW and Planned Parenthood throughout the duration of the case."

Finally, Wood wrote a dissent in a case concerning an Indiana law requiring counseling and informed consent prior to an abortion. Similar laws in other states have reduced the number of abortions by giving women information about abortion risks and alternatives and have been upheld by the Supreme Court.

[wagglebee]

As a member of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, she has a long history of taking the pro-abortion side when it comes to pro-life issues.

Just more of the "common ground" that Zero is looking for.

[wagglebee]

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[kabar]

Wood is married to Robert Sufit, a professor of neurology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, to whom she was introduced by her fellow Seventh Circuit Judge Ilana Rovner.[1] She previously was married in 1978 to Dennis Hutchinson, a professor at the University of Chicago School of Law, from whom she was later divorced.[2] Wood married her first husband, Steve Van, while both were students in law school.[3] Wood has three children with Hutchinson and three stepchildren.[4] She plays oboe and English horn in the North Shore Chamber Orchestra in Evanston, Illinois and in the Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra in Chicago, Illinois.

Thrice married and living in the Chicago area.

[Big_Monkey]

"Just more of the "common ground" that Zero is looking for.

Let's face it, everyone of the possible nominees are militant feminists and unwavering pro-abortionists. The GOP can make some noise about the nominee, but ultimately, whomever Barry nominates will be confirmed.

Elections have consequences and we're about to to feel one of them in the coming weeks. For those that want to abandon the Republican party to form a more purely conservative one, think about how even more feckless a smaller minority would be than the one we have already.

[Bitsy]

What news! More baby killers in high places. I know the bible says sin is sin but there’s got to be something horrific in store for these people. They think they are so intellectually superior that they know when a baby is a human and that ignorant Southern bible thumpers like myself don’t have the brains to get out of the rain. I try to pity them but its hard to do!

[BlueStateBlues]

Isn’t she almost 60? This is an okay pick, just because of her age. She won’t be a 20+ year judge, maybe not even a 10 year judge. I can live with her, only because of her age. Obama could go with a 42 year old and gain 18 years of time on the bench. It’s what I’d do.

[bitterohiogunclinger]

“Wood is considered a top legal mind by left-wing political activists as someone who can counter the legal acumen of Supreme Court jurists like Chief Justice John Roberts and Antonin Scalia.”
If she's a top liberal mind, she's grossly unqualified, incompetant and the last person that belongs on the Supremes. Notice the term “legal acumen” applied to Roberts and Scalia, while “activist” is the only qualification for an Nobama pick.
Liberals are such asshats.

[jeltz25]

the only good news about Wood is that she’s 58, almost 59. She might not end up serving that long. If Obama is smart, and since he has 60 Dems he can get whoever he wants confirmed, he’d find someone around 40 or younger who will be there for 30-40 years iinstead of 15.

[bigbob]

We know it will be a staunchly pro-abortion selection. As Palin proves, this is THE issue that inflames libs the most, and BO will do whatever he can to maintain the ability to kill babies on demand.

[clintonh8r]

Too bad The Kenyan’s mommy made the wrong choice....

[Kevmo]

According to Intrade, Kagan is the front runner.

Who will be the next Supreme Court Justice? (others on suggestion)

Contract

Bid

Ask

Last

Vol

Chge

SC.JUSTICE.BRINKMANN

M

Trade

0.8

3.9

1

33

0

Beth Brinkmann to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.CASTILL

M

Trade

-

3.9

3

2

0

Ruben Castill to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.CLINTON

M

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4

4.5

4

528

0

Hillary Clinton to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.GARLAND

M

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0.7

4.4

2

6

0

Merrick B. Garland to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.GRANHOLM

M

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10

12.7

10

333

0

Jennifer Granholm to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.KAGAN

M

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33.3

35.9

34

338

-5

Elena Kagan to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.KARLAN

M

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2.5

4

2

58

0

Pamela Karlan to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.KOH

M

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-

4.4

-

0

0

Harold Hongju Koh to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.MORENO

M

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-

4.4

-

0

0

Carlos Moreno to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.NAPOLITANO

M

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4.5

8

4.5

68

0

Janet Napolitano to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.PATRICK

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-

4.4

3

2

0

Deval Patrick to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.SEARS

M

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1.5

5

4

66

0

Leah Ward Sears to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.SOTOMAYOR

M

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18.1

22

20.1

558

0.1

Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.SULLIVAN

M

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2.2

4.5

2.2

58

0.2

Kathleen Sullivan to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.SUNSTEIN

M

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2

4.3

2

72

0

Cass Sunstein to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.WARDLAW

M

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4.1

6.9

4

120

0.5

Kimberly McLane Wardlaw to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.WILLIAMS

M

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-

-

-

0

new

Ann Claire Williams to be the next Supreme Court Justice

SC.JUSTICE.WOOD

M

Trade

28.5

37.9

28.2

273

-3.8

Diane Pamela Wood to be the next Supreme Court Justice

[EDINVA]

You sure nailed that one !

[wagglebee]

The problem with Intrade on something like this is that NOBODY making these bets has a clue what is going on. Look at what happened last fall, Intrade barely even had Palin in the running.

[BigSkyFreeper]

At this point, it won’t matter who he nominates. We just don’t have the numbers to stop Obama.

[SteamShovel]

Wood is considered a top legal mind by left-wing political activists as someone who can counter the legal acumen of Supreme Court jurists like Chief Justice John Roberts and Antonin Scalia.

You nailed it.....

.....her left views (meaning unconstitutional - living document jazz) means she is not qualified.

She can't touch Roberts or Scalia for correct rulings, but that is not what matters. The fact that it will be a constant 5-4 liberal court is what matters.

Now we lose a "sometimes left, sometimes right" Court for a solid left Court.

[trek]

". For those that want to abandon the Republican party to form a more purely conservative one, think about how even more feckless a smaller minority would be than the one we have already. "

Some of us want to abandon both national parties and organize to take back the country via the States. After all, that is how the country was designed to function.

You can call this quest quixotic and foolish. But the difference between our plan and yours is that if our plan works, it actually accomplishes something. With yours even if you succeed you fail. The Bush years proved this beyond any doubt.

[Big_Monkey]

"You can call this quest quixotic and foolish. But the difference between our plan and yours is that if our plan works, it actually accomplishes something. With yours even if you succeed you fail. The Bush years proved this beyond any doubt.

The states don't confirm Supreme Court Justices, the Senate does. The most profound and lasting moves to the left in this country have either come directly from the Supreme Court or where upheld by the Supreme Court when the court was most populated by leftist Justices.

This is the fact that is lost on the third party advocates. A third party will be all the impetus the Democrats need to make sweeping ideological changes to our form of government. In short, whatever grass roots support a conservative movement may gain at the state level, would be rendered moot by a permanent leftist Supreme Court majority.

[Big_Monkey]

"Now we lose a "sometimes left, sometimes right" Court for a solid left Court.

This pick won't change the balance of the court at all. Souter, although nominated by GHWB, is a reliably leftist justice and is being replaced by a reliably leftist justice.

We just have to hope that nothing happens to Kennedy, Alito, Scalia, Thomas or Roberts. If Obama can replace either of those five, the court will be in for a huge ideological shift.

[Paperdoll]

If a possible SCOTUS nominee is predisposed in his/her pro opinion of abortion LET THE FILIBUSTER BEGIN!!!!!