Picking the Next Supreme Court Justice
Michelle Malsbury, BSBM, MM
May 05, 2009
The US Supreme Court is comprised of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. All are nominated by our President and are confirmed by the Senate. They serve for life or until they decide to retire. These nine people are charged with interpreting our Constitution as it relates to a variety of topics and issues. They should make decisions based on interpreting constitutional law and the Constitution itself that are logical and reasonable, based on facts, and sound. Sometimes these decisions require them to take a step back from their personal beliefs and preferences to determine what is best for all American people.
Let´s take a walk through some of the more impressive cases that have been decided by our Supreme Court beginning with former Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953-1969). Justice Warren heard Brown v. Board of Education that upheld that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and that [Arbington School District v. Schempp] public schools could not mandate reading the Bible or hold official prayer sessions [Engel v. Vitale]. He also rendered decision that the Constitution gave people who were unable to pay provision for retaining a court appointed attorney [Gideon v. Wainwright].
Justice Burger served from 1969-1986 and his most important and controversial case was Roe v. Wade. That landmark case determined that women have a right to privacy about their own bodies. They have the right to choose.
Justice Reinquest (1986-2005) took a turn toward a more Federalistic America by deciding that congressional powers under commerce should be restricted [US v. Lopez v. Morrison]. He was also instrumental in the decision to award the presidency to George W. Bush in 2000 [Bush v. Gore]. This five to four decision ended the Florida recount. Judge Reinquest also decriminalized homosexual sex [Lawrence v. Texas] and modified Roe v. Wade by addressing what criteria could be used to determine abortions by Planned Parenthood.
Justice Roberts took over in 2005 and is still serving as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. Many people consider him the most conservative thus far. He has presided over abortion cases, anti-trust cases, the death penalty, freedom of speech cases for government employees and highschool students, desegregation, and voting rights.
The Honorable Judge Souter is stepping down from the Supreme Court this June and President Obama has said he would like to have his replacement on board by October of this year. I am sure there are many capable persons of filling Judge Souters shoes, but I have singled out three that I believe would be a congruent fit; Judge Petra Jimenez Maes (NM), Judge Annice M. Wagner (DC), and Judge Jack A. Panella (PA).
Judge Maes was the first of two Hispanic women to ever graduate from the University of New Mexico´s Law School in 1973. She has worked in private practice and legal services before serving seventeen years as Judge for the First Judicial District in New Mexico, the last two were as Chief. In 1998 she was sent to the New Mexico Supreme Court, where she currently serves.
Judge Wagner is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (1964). She has been General Counsel to the National Capital Housing Authority in DC, People´s Counsel in DC, Associate Judge for the Superior Court in DC, and is currently Chief Justice for the Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
Judge Panella graduated from St. John´s University with a BS in Accounting before going to Columbus School of Law (1980). He has previously been a trail lawyer, and trial judge for over twelve years. He was the youngest judge ever appointed for Northampton County (PA) and has been a Supreme Court Judge for the State of Pennsylvania since 1993.
The decision for who will fill Justice Souter´s seat will be a deliberate one for President Obama. I know he will find the best person for the job based on many important criteria. I hope that I have provided some key insight in to what those Justices do and how they have shaped the nation that we are.
References;
www.en.wikipedia.org
www.padems.com
www.helium.com
Let´s take a walk through some of the more impressive cases that have been decided by our Supreme Court beginning with former Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953-1969). Justice Warren heard Brown v. Board of Education that upheld that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional and that [Arbington School District v. Schempp] public schools could not mandate reading the Bible or hold official prayer sessions [Engel v. Vitale]. He also rendered decision that the Constitution gave people who were unable to pay provision for retaining a court appointed attorney [Gideon v. Wainwright].
Justice Burger served from 1969-1986 and his most important and controversial case was Roe v. Wade. That landmark case determined that women have a right to privacy about their own bodies. They have the right to choose.
Justice Reinquest (1986-2005) took a turn toward a more Federalistic America by deciding that congressional powers under commerce should be restricted [US v. Lopez v. Morrison]. He was also instrumental in the decision to award the presidency to George W. Bush in 2000 [Bush v. Gore]. This five to four decision ended the Florida recount. Judge Reinquest also decriminalized homosexual sex [Lawrence v. Texas] and modified Roe v. Wade by addressing what criteria could be used to determine abortions by Planned Parenthood.
Justice Roberts took over in 2005 and is still serving as Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court. Many people consider him the most conservative thus far. He has presided over abortion cases, anti-trust cases, the death penalty, freedom of speech cases for government employees and highschool students, desegregation, and voting rights.
The Honorable Judge Souter is stepping down from the Supreme Court this June and President Obama has said he would like to have his replacement on board by October of this year. I am sure there are many capable persons of filling Judge Souters shoes, but I have singled out three that I believe would be a congruent fit; Judge Petra Jimenez Maes (NM), Judge Annice M. Wagner (DC), and Judge Jack A. Panella (PA).
Judge Maes was the first of two Hispanic women to ever graduate from the University of New Mexico´s Law School in 1973. She has worked in private practice and legal services before serving seventeen years as Judge for the First Judicial District in New Mexico, the last two were as Chief. In 1998 she was sent to the New Mexico Supreme Court, where she currently serves.
Judge Wagner is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan (1964). She has been General Counsel to the National Capital Housing Authority in DC, People´s Counsel in DC, Associate Judge for the Superior Court in DC, and is currently Chief Justice for the Court of Appeals in Washington, DC.
Judge Panella graduated from St. John´s University with a BS in Accounting before going to Columbus School of Law (1980). He has previously been a trail lawyer, and trial judge for over twelve years. He was the youngest judge ever appointed for Northampton County (PA) and has been a Supreme Court Judge for the State of Pennsylvania since 1993.
The decision for who will fill Justice Souter´s seat will be a deliberate one for President Obama. I know he will find the best person for the job based on many important criteria. I hope that I have provided some key insight in to what those Justices do and how they have shaped the nation that we are.
References;
www.en.wikipedia.org
www.padems.com
www.helium.com