Washington State Shows How a Truly Progressive Court Changes Everything (barf alert)

Slate ^ | March 15, 2021 | Mark Joseph Stern

[KingofZion]

The Washington Supreme Court is on a roll. On March 11, it took the unprecedented step of outlawing mandatory sentences of life without parole for people under the age of 21—making Washington the first state in the nation to extend such protections to defendants who, while technically adults at the time of their crime, have greater potential for rehabilitation because of their youth. The previous month, a majority of the court struck down Washington’s drug possession law, effectively legalizing possession of controlled substances while overturning thousands of convictions going back decades. And, in January, the court made it easier for victims of police misconduct to sue law enforcement officers who violate their rights.

This extraordinary series of decisions shows how a diverse and progressive judiciary can make the country a more just and equitable place. The Washington Supreme Court’s members exemplify the kind of judges whom Joe Biden should be looking for as he prepares to announce his first slate of judicial nominees. To counter the current dominance of conservative ideology in the federal judiciary, liberals can’t rely on moderates committed to minimalism; they need a distinct vision of the law as a force of justice that guarantees equal rights and dignity to those who are impoverished, unpopular, and powerless. To find one, they need only look to Washington state.

*** In 2019 and 2020, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee appointed two new justices to the court: Raquel Montoya-Lewis, a Jewish Native American woman, and Grace Helen Whitener, a disabled Black lesbian immigrant. (In November, the state voted overwhelmingly to keep both women on the bench.) There, they joined Justice Mary Yu, an Asian American Latina lesbian, as well as Steven González, the current chief justice, who is Hispanic, and one of just two men on the nine-member court.

***

[KingofZion]

Without Trump, this is what we would be facing on SCOTUS

[Pontiac]

The Washington Supreme Court is on a roll. On March 11, it took the unprecedented step of outlawing mandatory sentences of life without parole for people under the age of 21—making Washington the first state in the nation to extend such protections to defendants who, while technically adults at the time of their crime, have greater potential for rehabilitation because of their youth.

I would love to see some statistics to back up that supposition.

More legislation from tyrants in robes.

So, 18 year olds can vote but can’t be responsible for their crimes.

[cranked]

These are the same mofos that would have cheered Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc. on, bet.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

Author, on the right

[Pontiac]

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee appointed two new justices to the court: Raquel Montoya-Lewis, a Jewish Native American woman, and Grace Helen Whitener, a disabled Black lesbian immigrant.

Looks like the governor is more interested in sex and ethnicity than he is ability and qualifications.

I wonder if any of these judges have ever heard of the concept of judicial restraint.

I didn’t think so.

[genghis]

Correct

[Stravinsky]

Yes, it really requires a diverse court to issue a bunch of neo-Marxist decisions. Commie judges like Brennan, Douglas, Reinhardt, and so many others were known for their dark skin and troubled upbringing. Give me a break. (And is there any doubt that if these judges were conservative, he’d be bashing them as traitors to their race, sex, or sexual orientation? Worded less directly than that, of course, but the message would still be clear.)

As for the author, he’s a leftist hack who frequently offers the most extreme takes on the Court’s decisions. He loves getting his ignorant readers outraged over the latest vomitus from John Boy Roberts, Kegger Kav, Cherokee Neil, and the othet oracles of D.C. No doubt one motivation for the propaganda is to draw eyes to the Slatehole. But the Left also wants to pack the courts and destroy the Republic in many other ways and it needs to keeps the gullible fools convinced that the judiciary is some reactionary right force in order to do that, so he’s obviously doing his part to help the Revolution as well.

[No_Mas_Obama]

Absolutely this changes everything - and will, as the most violent of crimes skyrockets in leftwing cesspools and impacts more and more progressives who voted for it. Buying popcorn!!

[ActresponsiblyinVA]

Is there anything left that is based on merit other than sports teams?

[waredbird]

An unborn baby may not ever be given the chance for rehabilitation. But it’s ok to put it to death even without a trial.

[hanamizu]

Well, you can see why he’s in favor of judges making the important decisions for society instead of elected legislatures. And apparently white men are just as rare on the state supreme court as they are NBA courts. And outnumbered 2:1 by lesbians.