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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident Obama on SCOTUSBlog: "A Responsibility I Take Seriously"
Last edited Wed Feb 24, 2016, 09:56 AM - Edit history (1)
President Barack Obama Guest
Posted Wed, February 24th, 2016 8:00 am
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A Responsibility I Take Seriously
........
Needless to say, this isnt something I take lightly. Its a decision to which I devote considerable time, deep reflection, careful deliberation, and serious consultation with legal experts, members of both political parties, and people across the political spectrum. And with thanks to SCOTUSblog for allowing me to guest post today, I thought Id share some spoiler-free insights into what I think about before appointing the person who will be our next Supreme Court Justice.
First and foremost, the person I appoint will be eminently qualified. He or she will have an independent mind, rigorous intellect, impeccable credentials, and a record of excellence and integrity. Im looking for a mastery of the law, with an ability to hone in on the key issues before the Court, and provide clear answers to complex legal questions.
Second, the person I appoint will be someone who recognizes the limits of the judiciarys role; who understands that a judges job is to interpret the law, not make the law. I seek judges who approach decisions without any particular ideology or agenda, but rather a commitment to impartial justice, a respect for precedent, and a determination to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand.
But Im also mindful that there will be cases that reach the Supreme Court in which the law is not clear. There will be cases in which a judges analysis necessarily will be shaped by his or her own perspective, ethics, and judgment. Thats why the third quality I seek in a judge is a keen understanding that justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook. Its the kind of life experience earned outside the classroom and the courtroom; experience that suggests he or she views the law not only as an intellectual exercise, but also grasps the way it affects the daily reality of peoples lives in a big, complicated democracy, and in rapidly changing times. That, I believe, is an essential element for arriving at just decisions and fair outcomes.
A sterling record. A deep respect for the judiciarys role. An understanding of the way the world really works. Thats what Im considering as I fulfill my constitutional duty to appoint a judge to our highest court. And as Senators prepare to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to consider the person I appoint, I hope theyll move quickly to debate and then confirm this nominee so that the Court can continue to serve the American people at full strength.
- See more at: http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/02/a-responsibility-i-take-seriously/#sthash.Un6wesCT.dpuf
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President Obama on SCOTUSBlog: "A Responsibility I Take Seriously" (Original Post)
kpete
Feb 2016
OP
malaise
(269,049 posts)1. Excellent
Rub it in their faces - in the perfect forum. GObama!!!