Originally published at: The US Supreme Court’s Crisis of Legitimacy
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Barrett defended the court against charges of bias, saying that the bench isn’t “comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks.” Barrett said she decides cases based on her “originalist” judicial philosophy, not her personal beliefs.
Originalist - code word for right-wing extremist who decides cases based on neoliberal based personal bias.
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Biden with a democrat house and senate could, if they wanted to, expand the court and write new laws as to how appoints are made. They don’t want to.
Instead of expanding the court, all justices should be restricted to 2 year limit or until their current working case has been completed. Justices should be randomly selected.
The court is now so politicized that it is useless as an institional branch of government, with the exception of causing more problems than it resolves…
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( 1/2) Also, alas, looks as if Breyer is going to repeat RBG‘s mistake. Wishing him a long and healthy life but life is no bowl of cherries … And as eldest justice he‘s 10 years Thomas’ senior.
Even better would be if we didn’t have to have this conversation at all. Judges have one of the most important jobs in society, deciding from majoor issues that affect millions to holding corporations and their owners accountable (or the opposite: Hi Sacklers/Purdue) to “just” deciding over the freedom of individuals. And so much more.
Imo all of this is much too central to the health of a society to let those guys be appointed by (polarized and often corrupt) politcians. A life long appointment doesn‘t help either, after all they can decide what they want without any fear of ANY consequences (prededent or societal realities be damned, especially with fanatics like the three new SCOTUS additions) …
Last but not least, electing judges isn’t the end all be all either as it often only leads to them handing out harsher and harsher sentences to appear “tough” on crime for their next election.
(2/2) This whole process has to be depoliticized! Judges/Justices should only be beholden to their oath and the letter of the law and like with anywhere in the private sector, people who constantly “screw up” should be able to face consequences.
Pipe dream, I know but if it goes on like that, even the last remnants of democracy are going to disappear (after conservative SCOTUS majorities already destroyed most of it, just look at Sinema how their ludicrous “money = free speech” ruling corrupts polticians … But alas, there’s even worse rulings on campaign finance on the horizon than we have now - I know, hard to imagine but just look up Ted Cruz‘ lawsuit he recently won in Texas and the FEC‘s stupid repeal to THIS Supreme Court which as good as certain will it make law of the whole land).
Also, the last safeguards against corporations doing what they want will disappear, prisons will overfill even more and on and on it goes …
Alas, to rely on the Dems to fix any of this is a pipe dream as well. Even more so as long as big money continues to rule all.
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When outright partisan political manipulation elevates an individual to the highest bench in the Land, you really have to wonder at the temerity of the individuals to allow their names to stand! To do so is blatantly immoral, unethical and extremely damaging to the High Court.
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You’re a LOT nicer than me.
In fact, that goes for every post above.
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If by “they”, you mean ManCinema.