General Discussion

jmowreader

(50,559 posts) Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:02 PM Feb 2016

Obama's next Supreme Court appointee needs to meet two qualifications...

1) liberal
2) 50 or under

My first choice was Stephen Reinhardt, who is known to be one of the most liberal judges in America. Problem is, he's over 80 years old. I think he'd be a great Supreme Court justice but he'll probably die in five years.

My second choice is Stacie Beckerman...the magistrate who ordered the Malheur terrorists held without bail. She is known to be fair and knowledgeable about the law, from her years of experience as a federal prosecutor. She's also 44 years old. Question is, does two years as a federal magistrate qualify someone to serve on the Supreme Court?

Who else would be good?

15 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Obama's next Supreme Court appointee needs to meet two qualifications... (Original Post) jmowreader Feb 2016 OP

Goodwin Liu. kairos12 Feb 2016 #1

He looks pretty good jmowreader Feb 2016 #4

Absolutely. OilemFirchen Feb 2016 #10

3) Wants to overturn Citizens United. stillwaiting Feb 2016 #2

I'm not sure there are many qualifications, actually.... Wounded Bear Feb 2016 #3

Harriet Miers wasn't, and she was nominated jmowreader Feb 2016 #6

Kamala Harris is just under 50. Yavin4 Feb 2016 #5

She'd also be fine. jmowreader Feb 2016 #7

I ageee with that choice. Warren DeMontague Feb 2016 #9

She is busy... Sen. Walter Sobchak Feb 2016 #14

Biden should nominate B Obama ! Narraback Feb 2016 #8

No. That would be insane! jmowreader Feb 2016 #11

Obama should nominate Hillary Clinton. Volaris Feb 2016 #13

Another vote for Goodwin Liu. hifiguy Feb 2016 #12

Has a nominee ever been rejected then get nominated a second time around and confirmed? WhaTHellsgoingonhere Feb 2016 #15

kairos12

(12,862 posts)

1. Goodwin Liu.

Reply to jmowreader (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:03 PM

Feb 2016

jmowreader

(50,559 posts)

4. He looks pretty good

Reply to kairos12 (Reply #1)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:06 PM

Feb 2016

He'd also be the first Asian on the Supreme Court, which would be cool.

OilemFirchen

(7,143 posts)

10. Absolutely.

Reply to kairos12 (Reply #1)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:10 PM

Feb 2016

Not only the best choice, but a fantastic opportunity to force the Republicans' hands. Would they dare filibuster him again?

stillwaiting

(3,795 posts)

2. 3) Wants to overturn Citizens United.

Reply to jmowreader (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:04 PM

Feb 2016

If Republicans block his nomination, then all Senate Democrats run to confirm a Supreme Court justice that wants to overturn Citizens United.

We can do this (if elected Democrats really want to do it).

Wounded Bear

(58,662 posts)

3. I'm not sure there are many qualifications, actually....

Reply to jmowreader (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:05 PM

Feb 2016

I'm pretty sure they don't even have to be a real judge.

jmowreader

(50,559 posts)

6. Harriet Miers wasn't, and she was nominated

Reply to Wounded Bear (Reply #3)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:08 PM

Feb 2016

Not even sure you have to be an actual lawyer, but they probably wouldn't appoint someone who'd never attended law school.

Yavin4

(35,441 posts)

5. Kamala Harris is just under 50.

Reply to jmowreader (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:08 PM

Feb 2016

Fierce advocate of same sex marriage, and an elected official who will push back on CU.

jmowreader

(50,559 posts)

7. She'd also be fine.

Reply to Yavin4 (Reply #5)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:09 PM

Feb 2016

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)

9. I ageee with that choice.

Reply to Yavin4 (Reply #5)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:10 PM

Feb 2016

Only problem would be removing her from an already sparse political bench, but it would be worth it.

Sen. Walter Sobchak

(8,692 posts)

14. She is busy...

Reply to Yavin4 (Reply #5)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 08:55 PM

Feb 2016

http://www.kamalaharris.org/

Narraback

(648 posts)

8. Biden should nominate B Obama !

Reply to jmowreader (Original post)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 07:09 PM

Feb 2016

The Pres resigns to go to Court!

jmowreader

(50,559 posts)

11. No. That would be insane!

Reply to Narraback (Reply #8)

Sat Feb 13, 2016, 08:12 PM

Feb 2016

Several Supreme Court nominees have been rejected by the Senate, and even more have either been pulled from consideration by the President or voluntarily withdrew thanks to heavy pressure. Obama would be the victim of an onslaught from the Hard Right the likes of which has never been seen.

The end result would be the GOP getting everything they wanted: the resignation of Obama as president and his subsequent shunning as a Supreme Court justice.

Martha Minow (current dean of Harvard Law School, clerked for Justice Thurgood Marshall) would be good...born in 1952, but we probably won't get a really young justice so that'd be all right.