Speculation Grows Over Another Supreme Court Nomination (Stevens on his way out)

Roll Call ^ | 9-3-2009

[My Favorite Headache]

Speculation Grows Over Another Supreme Court Nomination By John Stanton Roll Call Staff Sept. 3, 2009, 4:13 p.m.

Speculation Grows Over Another Supreme Court Nomination

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens’ decision to hire only one law clerk for the coming term — and not the normal three or four — has fueled speculation on Capitol Hill about whether the 89-year-old jurist is planning to step aside and the effect another high court retirement would have on the Senate’s already busy fall schedule.

Stevens has typically hired all of his clerks for a coming term at once, but this year he is only hiring one — the number that retiring members of the court are allotted. The Associated Press first reported Stevens’ hiring decision earlier this week. If Stevens were to step down, he would be the second to do so since President Barack Obama took office. Justice David Souter retired in June and has since been replaced by Sonia Sotomayor.

Stevens, who was nominated to the court by Republican President Gerald Ford in 1975, is considered to be the leader of the court’s liberal wing. As the court’s oldest member, he has been the subject of retirement speculation for years. But Supreme Court retirements are difficult to forecast — justices usually keep such decisions close to the vest and rarely make public comments.

If Stevens does retire, many suggest the road to confirming his successor would likely track similarly to the confirmation process of Sotomayor earlier this year.

Senate aides in both parties speculated that Obama would return to the same list of candidates he vetted for Souter’s slot including U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Diane Wood and Cass Sunstein, Obama’s pick to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.

Regardless of the candidates, a Stevens retirement this fall would likely throw the entire Senate’s schedule into chaos. Democratic leaders are struggling to find time to complete work on health care reform, climate change and the annual appropriations bills, and have already had to jettison until next year or beyond high-profile issues like immigration. What’s more, Supreme Court nominations rarely move quietly through the chamber, with both parties and advocacy organizations mounting aggressive campaigns for or against.

[SandWMan]

I expect Resident Soetoro to nominate the first Afro-Hispanic-Arab Muslim transgendered homosexual “woman” to the court.

[nmh]

Oh brother!

Does Ginsberg still have cancer?

If so, that might be two new LIBERALS on the court.

[taillightchaser]

Why is there speculation? Anyone with half a brain knows zero will nominate the most left wing, nazi leaning whack job he can find.

[headstamp 2]

“Stevens, who was nominated to the court by Republican President Gerald Ford in 1975, is considered to be the leader of the court’s liberal wing. “

Thanks Gerry!

[DRey]

Yep. I will always despise Ford for this legacy. It would be a very different America if he hadn’t screwed the pooch with Stevens.

[Truth is a Weapon]

You left out life-time card carrying member of the communist party.

[nufsed]

This Van Jones guy starting to look like a sure thing for USSC.

[Tzimisce]

And the Republicans will rubber stamp another radical left wing douche bag.

THANKS RINOS! :)

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

I predict the next Justice will be Janet Napolitano.

Gos help us all.

[TexasFreeper2009]

All the lib judges are running for the door knowing that their chances of getting a commie to replace them after the republicans retake congress in 2010 will be greatly diminished.

[Dubya-M-DeesWent2SyriaStupid!]

ooooooooooops

GOD help us all

not Gos or Gazoo.

[ScottinVA]

At least it’ll be a wash. Can’t get more liberal than Stevens.

[mojitojoe]

I predict the next Justice will be Janet Napolitano.

___________________

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[trumandogz]

Obama may be on his way to having four appointments to the SCOTUS. My guess is that next summer he will have two appointments and that gives him two or six more years for another nomination.

[Jeff Chandler]

Here Come De Judge!

Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls.

[BlueStateBlues]

It does look like he’s decided to serve one more term and leave. But the most likely people to leave are all the libs, so no harm done unless Kennedy decides to pasture himself within the next couple of years.