Leahy: Allow retired justices to sit on SCOTUS

Washington Times - Water Cooler ^ | 9/29/10 | Kerry Picket

[paltz]

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, Vermont Democrat, has proposed a bill that would allow for retired Supreme Court Justices to sit on the court by designation in cases where the active justice has recused. READ THE BILL

Under the proposed bill, the active justices of the Supreme Court would be permitted to vote to designate a retired Supreme Court justice in a particular case in which one or more Justices have recused themselves and allow the court to preempt potential 4:4 split decisions, in which the decision of a lower court stands.

[WellyP]

NFW!

[EagleUSA]

They just keep trying to tear down the very system that protects America from corrupt, oppressive government.....

[Drill Thrawl]

Excellent. What a great idea to fix our broken economy!

[La Lydia]

Uh, what about a little document called THE CONSTITUTION? Always a bad idea when a cheesy politician thinks he’s smarter than the Founding Fathers.

[Glenn]

Sure thing. Shouldn't take much more than an amendment to the Constitution.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

It’s bad enough that we allow corpses like Leahy to sit in the Senate and don’t even bother to actually run a race against the old fart.

[NonValueAdded]

NO PROXIES!!!

[cripplecreek]

In other words, “Let us choose judges favorable to our outcomes”.

[Carry_Okie]

Let's see if he proposes this in October 2011.

Situational court-packing. What a creep.

[xzins]

Nope. It’s bad enough they stay there for decades in the first place. The only justice I’d have any hope for is Rehnquist and he’s in heaven.

[LibLieSlayer]

Uhhhhhhhhhh... hell no.

LLS

[A_Former_Democrat]

How instead about a Constitutional Amendment for mandatory retirement at a reasonable age?

[fightinJAG]

Somehow this reminds me of Roosevelt’s try to pack the Court.

Things just get curiouser and curiouser.

Maybe the Prez should have thougnt of the recusal problem before he nominated his Solicitor General.

[txroadkill]

Once again the Left is trying to find or create a loop hole in the Constitution.

[jcsjcm]

Especially since the last 2 that left are leftists! I agree with post above NFW

[cripplecreek]

Every case would lead to endless calls for recusal of every justice and endless shopping for judges.

[Bean Counter]

I’m not positive, but I don’t recall that the US Senate was tasked with the responsibility of determining what procedures the Supreme Court will follow.

If memory serves, that responsibility is reserved for the Chief Justice, and Leahy ain’t him...

[DMZFrank]

They know that the two justices appointed by Premier Obama will have to recuse themselves in an NBC eligibility case involving him!!!! They are looking forward to this eventuality!!!

[SoldierDad]

Bork!!!