It is said that 14 of the 25 judges nominated by Obama had replaced Republican judges.
"Obama has still managed to alter the balance of power on four of the nation's 13 circuit courts of appeals." Is it good for Obama to be altering the power of the nations circuit courts of appeals? I think it is better to have some diversity. What do you think?
The average age of the judges that Obama has been choosing is more than 55 years old. It is said that many presidents look at the appeals court judges as future Supreme court candidates. Do you think its good for Obama to be picking old judges? Or should he be choosing younger ones and giving them a chance to develop a record that presidents can look at? I think that Obama should be choosing younger judges because that could possibly result in more Democratic Supreme Court Justices later on.
4 comments:
I agree and think that Obama should choose younger judges if he wins another term. Not saying he has to follow the lead of other presidents but looking at statistics the average age of his nominated appeals court judges as Thomas said is 55+; that average is higher than any president's going back to Jimmy Carter, and shouldn't that say something? Linking back to the other question of whether or not Obama should have more diversity within the court systems I also think he should. However, straying from the point a little bit, either way the next high court opening is going to cause a riot if a Republican president is nominated it would allow him to make conservative control of the court permanent through replacing Ginsburg. But on the flip side if Obama wins again he could give Democrats majority for the first time in decades by replacing Scalia or Kennedy.
I think that choosing younger judges would be in the best interests of the Democratic party. Assuming that the judges Obama picks will favor his own policies and ideals, these younger judges will be able to serve longer terms and develop more of a track record to prove themselves. Furthermore, with these judges in place, his influence will extend far past his presidential terms as Supreme Court judges are appointed for life. At the same time, it's probably not in the best interests of the country for Obama to alter the power of the nations circuit court of appeals for fear of giving him too much influence.
I think Obama should choose whoever he thinks is the best qualified for the job. It is not his job to prepare people for a job in the future. Furthermore, obviously Obama would not nominate Republican judges. He wants judges that are the best fit with his beliefs. If Obama is making it so that the power shifts to Democrats in courts, then that means that the Republicans held the power before, so I don't think that he is actually making the courts more unbalanced.
I'm sure that these older gentlemen that Obama appointed to the courts were at one point young men. It seems to me that the older a judge is, the more experience he/she has acquired.
Young judges will certainly get a chance to become old judges if they are determined to persevere. If anything the more experienced judges should be seen as an advantage. The amount of service they have gone through serves as evidence to their devotion to the pursuit of justice. Young does not necessarily connote more effective proceedings. It is foolish to ask for equality of age.
In response to Sophia: judges acquire track records by serving in the lower courts. It makes no sense to simply place an inexperienced youngster into a seat of power.
As for Obama appointing judges... would the Republicans act any differently?
Post a Comment