Three U.S. Supreme Court justices may retire during President Elect Barack Obama's term in the White House, giving him the opportunity to nominate new justices.Guardian Unlimited: Obama Presidency Could Impact Make-Up of Supreme Court (November 5, 2008) Seven of the nine existing Justices were appointed by Republicans. It is expected that Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Paul Stevens and David Souter may retire.CBS News: Obama, The Supreme Court And DOJ, Legal Analyst Cohen On Obama Impact On Courts And Dept. Of Justice (November 5, 2008) There has been great speculation as to whom Obama may nominate.CBS News: Obama, The Supreme Court And DOJ, Legal Analyst Cohen On Obama Impact On Courts And Dept. Of Justice (November 5, 2008)
Possible Candidates
- Washington lawyer Robert BarnettCBS News: Obama, The Supreme Court And DOJ, Legal Analyst Cohen On Obama Impact On Courts And Dept. Of Justice (November 5, 2008)
- Legal scholar Cass SunsteinCBS News: Obama, The Supreme Court And DOJ, Legal Analyst Cohen On Obama Impact On Courts And Dept. Of Justice (November 5, 2008)
- Massachusetts Gov. Deval PatrickCBS News: Obama, The Supreme Court And DOJ, Legal Analyst Cohen On Obama Impact On Courts And Dept. Of Justice (November 5, 2008)
- 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Sonia SotomayorCBS News: Obama, The Supreme Court And DOJ, Legal Analyst Cohen On Obama Impact On Courts And Dept. Of Justice (November 5, 2008)
- Dean of Harvard Law Elena KaganCBS News: Obama, The Supreme Court And DOJ, Legal Analyst Cohen On Obama Impact On Courts And Dept. Of Justice (November 5, 2008)
Obama Quote on SCOTUS Justices
"We need somebody who's got the heart, the empathy, to recognize what it's like to be a young teenage mom. The empathy to understand what it's like to be poor, or African-American, or gay, or disabled, or old. And that's the criteria by which I'm going to be selecting my judges."First Read (MSNBC): Obama on judges, Supreme Court (July 17, 2007)—Barack Obama, speaking at Planned Parenthood in July 2007
Possible Obama Supreme Court Nominees
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References
Fast Facts
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Three U.S. Supreme Court justices may retire while Obama is in office
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Paul Stevens and David Souter may retireNational Journal Magazine: In the Balance (July 26, 2008)
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Obama criticized Justice Anthony Kennedy over his opinion on banning partial birth abortions in July 2007First Read (MSNBC): Obama on judges, Supreme Court (July 17, 2007)
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Supreme Court of the United States is often referred to as SCOTUS
