Consumer Law

Up Next: A Supreme Court "Civil Justice" Justice?

By Kia Franklin

Today President Obama announced that Justice Souter will be retiring from the Supreme Court at the end of this term, and the search for a Souter replacement has begun. Obama "hope[s] to have a new justice sworn in by the first Monday in October -- when the new court term begins." (NPR) Wowzers.

What types of qualities will Obama look for in a new Supreme Court justice?

I argued in this Newsday throwback that the person we elect as President "needs to embrace the judicial values that will benefit a majority of ordinary Americans, not just corporate interests." By signing the Ledbetter Act into law, Obama seemed to signal an eagerness to do just that. He revealed more about his judicial philosophy and what he'll look for in a Justice during a Situation Room interview:

?[W]hat I do want is a judge who is sympathetic enough to those who are on the outside, those who are vulnerable, those who are powerless, those who can't have access to political power and as a consequence can't protect themselves from being dealt with sometimes unfairly. That the courts become a refuge for justice; that's been its historic role.?

Now that's a notable quotable. Here's hoping it translates into a Supreme Court nominee we can be really excited about. A Supreme Court Civil Justice Justice. (I know, that was just too easy.)

Full post as published by TortDeform.com on May 01, 2009 (boomark / email).