Litigation

JAS to Obama: Remember Judiciary?s ?Unique Role?

By Peter Hardin

The Justice at Stake Campaign has urged President Barack Obama to choose a Supreme Court nominee who shares retiring Justice John Paul Stevens’ commitment to protecting courts from partisan and special-interest politics.

?Throughout his 34-year tenure on the Supreme Court, Justice John Paul Stevens stood up for the principle that courts should be fair, impartial, and free from the influence of special interests?and that our system of checks and balances gives courts a unique role in protecting our liberties,? the letter explained.

The letter went on to note Justice Stevens’ s key roles in three landmark cases over the past decade. They addressed partisan politics and campaign dollars in state judicial elections, where spending has risen dramatically and candidates have been pressured to make campaign promises on how they might rule if elected to the bench.

Cited in the letter were Republican Party of Minnesota v. White (2002) and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010).

Regarding Citizens United, the case in which Justice Stevens wrote a vigorous dissent, the letter underscored the president’s own words:

“As you have rightly stated, ?in a democracy, powerful interests must not be allowed to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens.? There is a great risk of this happening today in state court elections.?

The letter, written by Executive Director Bert Brandenburg and Federal Affairs and Diversity Director Deanna Dawson, is available by clicking here, or to see a press release, click here. To see Justice at Stake?s ?Replacing Justice Stevens? page, click here.

Full post as published by The Gavel on April 29, 2010 (boomark / email).