Divided U.S. Supreme Court cautious about taking new cases

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Divided U.S. Supreme Court cautious about taking new cases
By Lawrence Hurley

April 4, 2016

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With a seat vacant possibly until next year, the U.S. Supreme Court is accepting fewer cases and seeking compromises as it tries to avoid being hamstrung by 4-4 deadlocks on such contentious issues as abortion, birth control and immigration.

The court has shown a reluctance to accept new cases as it faces the prospect of the vacancy created by the Feb. 13 death of Justice Antonin Scalia remaining unfilled for an extended period. It has placed only three new cases on its calendar since Scalia died: a patent dispute and two criminal appeals, none likely to generate much controversy.

In the previous five years, the court had taken up an average of eight cases during the same period, from late February to early April, with a high of 11 in 2013.

The court's current approach suggests the justices, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, have an interest in avoiding the appearance they are crippled by having a vacant seat. That desire also has been signaled in the way the court has handled cases during the current term, which runs through June.




































Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/divided-u-supreme-court-cautious-taking-cases-215451631.html?nhp=1

[bigwillq]

1. Or Congress could just do its job.

For once.

[thereismore]

2. This is a constitutional putsch. The Congress leaves SCOTUS ineffectual, ergo, more power

to Congress! Not what was intended for sure.

[davidpdx]

3. This is a really bad thing

Essentially it is crippling the court and stopping appeals. I don't know what the consequences will be if they continue to be cautious about the cases they here, maybe someone can address that.

It's almost been two months now. If they continue this I hope we elect a D and nominate the MOST liberal judge in the US.
#fucktherepublicans