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O'Connor's Retirement: What's at Stake

By Jeralyn, Section Judiciary
Posted on Fri Jul 01, 2005 at 08:57:02 AM EST
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People for the American Way outline what's at state with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's retirement.

A Scalia-Thomas majority would not only reverse more than seven decades of Supreme Court legal precedents, but could also return us to a situation America faced in the first third of the 20th Century, when progressive legislation, like child labor laws, was adopted by Congress and signed by the President, but repeatedly rejected on constitutional grounds by the Supreme Court.

A shift of one or two votes would reverse Roe v. Wade’s guarantee of reproductive freedom and the right to privacy. But that would just be the beginning. Among those rights that could be drastically redefined if just one or two hard-right justices join the Court are:

....A Supreme Court with additional justices who do not meet consensus standards could radically rewrite our nation’s fundamental definitions of justice. This disturbing truth should figure prominently in any public debate over the courts and should give mainstream Americans of both parties reason to pause before accepting any nominee to the nation’s highest court who is not committed to upholding basic rights and legal protections that Americans cherish.

PFAW lists these as the rights that may be in jeopardy if a consensus candidate is not selected:

  • Privacy Rights
  • Civil Rights and Discrimination
  • Church-State Separation
  • Environmental Protection
  • Workers' Rights and Consumer Protection
    Campaign Finance Reform
< Move-On Pac Launches Ad Campaign re: O'Connor Replacement | Senator Feingold on O'Connor's Retirement >

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    • O'Connor's Retirement: What's at Stake | 3 comments (3 topical)
    Re: O'Connor's Retirement: What's at Stake (none / 0) (#1)
    by Last Night in Little Rock on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:45 PM EST
    I am grieving. This is a serious loss.

    Re: O'Connor's Retirement: What's at Stake (none / 0) (#2)
    by The Heretik on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:45 PM EST
    Time to get active. The "victory" of the filibuster compromise is behind us.

    Re: O'Connor's Retirement: What's at Stake (none / 0) (#3)
    by glanton on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:00:46 PM EST
    The question now becomes, are you ready to be a lawbreaker?

    O'Connor's Retirement: What's at Stake | 3 comments (3 topical)