Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor

The Supreme Court Has Become A True Disaster!

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The US Supreme Court, under Chief Justice John Roberts, has become a total disaster, a disgrace to its 236 year history since 1789.

The present Court, with a 6-3 right wing majority, is the most extremist since the 1920s, and seems to have the purpose to join Donald Trump in destroying the regulatory state and the promotion of civil rights that has occurred from the New Deal onward.

Two of the members—Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito—are the most extremist and corrupt members of the Court in the past century, highly arrogant individuals. And Chief Justice Roberts, who seems so concerned about his legacy in history as the leader of the Court, has given up trying to regulate the influence of these two members, and the three Donald Trump appointments, which with rare exceptions join in on most decisions, with an occasional, surprising split by Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh or Amy Coney Barrett.

The three Democratic appointments to the court–Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson–are clearly frustrated, as indicated in their often fiery, critical responses to many of the Court decisions. It must be hard to have civil relations, and one would think, that the frustrations could lead to private thoughts of resigning from the Court. But of course, they know that if any of them were to resign, that would mean a future 7-2 Court and even more extremist impact.

Right now, in a very difficult time, we must be proud of their defiance, and their commitment to staying and fighting, and hope for their continued health and prosperity, with the fear if one is forced to leave, what a disaster that would mean for constitutional law, already in disarray as things stand now!

Birthright Citizenship, A Basic Part Of The 14th Amendment, Lies In Tatters! :(

Ronald 2 Comments

Donald Trump’s despicable attack on the 14th Amendment and Birthight Citizenship has won a battle in the right wing, extremist Supreme Court, by a 6-3 vote on Friday.

While it is not final, as the issue has been sent to the lower federal courts for further adjudication, the signs are that a basic right, insured 150 years ago after the Civil War, may be totally wiped out.

The tensions are high on the Supreme Court, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson in particular, being highly critical of the majority decision produced by Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

The language utilized by both Justices and the clearcut tone of exasperation at what the Court is doing to promote an Imperial Presidency makes one wonder how thare can be any sense of camaraderie of the Court members toward each other.

It seems clear that the three Justices in the minority, also including Elena Kagan, probably would wish to leave the Court in disgust, but of course, cannot do so, as that would only promote an even more extremist right wing Court.

But it is clear that there are no “happy days” on the Court led by Chief Justice John Roberts, who has clearly presided over a totally disgraceful Court, that will undermine his reputation in the long run of American history!

Donald Trump Has Declared War On Supreme Court And Other Federal Courts’ Authority!

Ronald 60 Comments

The nation is reaching a crucial turning point, as Donald Trump has attacked the seven members of the Supreme Court, who have ruled that he cannot use the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport immigrants without habeus corpus and due process.

Trump is ranting on Truth Social about this, and he and his MAGA Republican supporters have also unleashed attacks against District Court Judges and Appeals Court Judges who have ruled against his policies regarding deportation.

Chief Justice John Roberts has also made clear how disturbed he is at the attacks on the rule of law and the Constitution, as has Associate Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, and even Trump appointed Amy Coney Barrett.

The fact that all three Trump Supreme Court nominees, including Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, along with Barrett, have voted against him, and that some of the District and Appeals Court Judges who have done so, are Reagan, George H W Bush, George W Bush, and even some Trump appointees, is an indication of great alarm in the judicial branch about Trump’s grabbing of power and attacks on the validity and legitimacy of the courts!

It looks as if Trump and his Cabinet officers, particularly Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Thomas Homan, and White House Adviser Stephen Miller, are hell bent on breaking the law and the Constitution, and refusing to obey the federal courts.

This is, if not stopped, a full scale attack on civil liberties, the Bill of Rights, and endangers all Americans, that any excuse could be used, without evidence or investigation, leading to massive deportations to foreign dictatorships beyond just El Salvador, with no appeal or ability to reverse such totalitarian, Fascist actions!

US Supreme Court Adding To Its Poor Image By Delaying Presidential Immunity Decision To End Of June!

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The US Supreme Court, already with a terrible reputation as an extremist right wing Court, is adding to its poor image by delaying its Presidential Immunity decision to the very last week of the present term.

The idea that any President has total immunity on anything he does as President is shocking, but the Court, with its three Donald Trump appointees, plus the horrendous Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, both involved in conflict of interest controversies of their own making, is adding tension to the nation by not having rejected such an idea summarily.

The hope is that the Court will reject such an outrageous abuse of Presidential power, that would allow any action of a President without any controls.

This blogger senses, and hopes that the vote will be as high as 7-2 rejecting total Presidential immunity, with only Thomas and Alito seemingly assured to back such abuse of power.

But this assumes that the Trump appointees, and at the least, Amy Coney Barrett, along with Chief Justice John Roberts, will join Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, to come to that conclusion. The hope is that Brett Kavanaugh will also join such a majority, and possibly Neil Gorsuch.

Supreme Court Future At Stake In Presidential Election Of 2024!

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Never has the future of constitutional law ever been more in danger than it is now in 2024, with a right wing extremist Supreme Court majority in process of reversing many of the constitutional advances promoted by the Warren Court and its successors.

President Joe Biden has brought to our attention the reality that it is highly likely that there will be at least TWO Supreme Court appointments in the next Presidential term.

This blogger and author believes, however, that it could, potentially, be up to FOUR appointments, not just two!

Four members of the present Court, based on age and Court longevity, may be leaving the Court by 2028!

Right wing extremists Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito are seen as likely to retire after being on the Court for 33 and 18 years and being in their mid 70s.

Sonia Sotomayor has health issues, and is reaching 70, after 15 years on the Court, and may leave.

And Chief Justice John Roberts, on the Court for 19 years, will reach 70 early in 2025.

So the whole future of the Supreme Court is at stake in a massive way!

Supreme Court Unpredictable On Presidential Immunity Case, Mind Boggling!

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After watching and listening to commentary about the Supreme Court Presidential Immunity case of Donald Trump, one is left with a sense of unpredictability as to what the Court will determine and when.

It seems clear that there might be a split on the Court, with the likely “best” result being a 5-4 vote for limited use of Presidential immunity for official actions, but not for “private” actions such as campaigning for reelection.

Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson seem certain on disputing Presidential immunity, and it also seems that the fourth woman on the Court, Amy Coney Barrett, might join them, leaving the determining vote likely to be Chief Justice John Roberts.

The other four Justices seem not to be concerned with any limits on Presidential immunity, including the events of January 6, 2021, which, if it works out that way, would be totally outrageous and disgraceful!

It Looks Like Donald Trump Will Remain On The Ballot: Time For A Vigorous, No Holds Barred Campaign!

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After witnessing the oral arguments before the Supreme Court yesterday in the Trump V Anderson Colorado Ballot controversy, it looks like Donald Trump will remain on the ballot for the Presidential Election of 2024 in all of the 50 states.

It was quite surprising even seeing the liberal Democratic appointments on the Supreme Court, and particularly Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, seemingly skeptical on the matter, although Sonia Sotomayor seemed likely to be in dissent.

It was also quite amazing that Clarence Thomas did not recuse himself on the matter, considering that his wife Ginni Thomas was supportive of the US Capitol Insurrection, but then it is well recognized that Thomas has no ethics, morals, or scruples.

Any time that the Supreme Court is involved in oral argument can lead to speculation on the result, so there could be a surprise decision, but it is clear one should not bet on it.

So it is now time for a vigorous, no holds barred campaign for the next nine months, as American democracy and the rule of law is on trial, in what can be considered the most dangerous times since the Civil War 160 years ago!

Repubicans Ready To Ignore Supreme Court And Rule Of Law: Further Degradation!

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The Republican Party seems ready to repudiate the Supreme Court, which has ruled by a 5-4 vote that Texas cannot keep barriers up to keep migrants out, that has led to the drownings of a mother and children.

The idea that Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett joined the three Democratic appointments on the Court—Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson—is causing many Republicans to go insane.

So the answer seems to be that many Republican state governors are joining a movement to defy a Court that has a conservative super majority, but at times, acts rational.

This is the effect of Donald Trump, further undermining the legitimacy and survival of the Republican Party which started in 1854 as a party of principle, opposition to slavery and its expansion!

Supreme Court Justice Quality Way Down From Decades In The Past!

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Republican Party Presidents since 1953 have selected the vast majority of Supreme Court Justices!

Dwight D. Eisenhower 5
Richard Nixon 4
Gerald Ford 1
Ronald Reagan 4
George H. W. Bush 2
George W. Bush 2
Donald Trump 3
Total 21 with William Rehnquist listed twice under Nixon and Reagan

in 40 years of Republican Presidents

Democratic Party Presidents have had far fewer appointments!

John F. Kennedy 2
Lyndon B. Johnson 2
Jimmy Carter 0
Bill Clinton 2
Barack Obama 2
Joe Biden 1
Total 9

in 32 years of Democratic Presidents

So twice as many Repubican appointments as Democrats!

Eisenhower had Chief Justice Earl Warren, Associate Justice Potter Stewart, and Associate Justice William Brennan stand out!

Nixon had Chief Justice Warren Burger and Associate Justice Harry Blackmun stand out!

Ford had Associate Justice John Paul Stevens stand out!

Reagan had Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy stand out!

H W Bush had Associate Justice David Souter stand out!

On the Democratic side:

Kennedy had Associate Justice Byron White stand out!

Johnson had Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall stand out!

Clinton had Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Associate Justice Stephen Breyer stand out!

Obama had Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Associate Justice Elena Kagan stand out!

Biden had Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stand out!

So 9 Republican appointments and 7 Democratic appointments have stood out!

Now, sadly, we have a group of appointments by Republican Presidents (the two Bushes and Donald Trump) that have been extremist and involved in conflicts of interest, and are not interested in being in the moderate center of constitutional law!

These include Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and sadly, Chief Justice John Roberts!