Chief Justice Rehnquist Hints at Retirement:

[DaveSZ]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 10, 2004


Chief Justice Rehnquist Hints at Retirement: NARAL Pro-Choice America Pledges Aggressive Battle to Block Anti-Choice Replacement


Potential for Vacancy Likely to Spur Attendance for April 25 Pro-Choice March for Women’s Lives in Washington, DC


Washington, DC – With Chief Justice William Rehnquist hinting in a television interview that he may soon be ready to retire his seat on the nation’s highest court, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the nation’s leading advocate of personal privacy and a woman’s right to choose, pledged an aggressive campaign to block any anti-choice nominee to replace him.
NARAL Pro-Choice America President Kate Michelman said: “Any new Supreme Court justice will have a profound impact on the future of privacy rights and reproductive freedom in this country. If the Chief Justice does step down, you can rest assured that George Bush will not have a free pass to replace him with another anti-choice judicial activist. The role of the Chief Justice is particularly important, and the possibility that this President could elevate either of his stated models – Justices Scalia and Thomas – to that post would be especially troubling. Pro-choice Americans will fight with every tool at our disposal and every ounce of energy we possess to protect Roe v. Wade for future generations.”

Michelman added: “A retirement this year would be particularly important, as it appears that several potential direct challenges to Roe could reach the Court in the very near future. The Justice Blackmun papers released last week show just how precarious the right to choose has been in recent history. We cannot afford to let another out-of-the-mainstream nominee get through.”

NARAL Pro-Choice America has identified several potential frontal assaults to the basic right to choose which have emerged in recent months:

Legislatures in five states are considering measures that would effectively outlaw abortion outright. Already, South Dakota has passed a bill that declares that life begins at conception, and Michigan is on the verge – due to a citizen’s initiative taking advantage of a little-used constitutional provision -- of passing a measure that achieves the same goal.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit is considering a legal effort by Norma McCorvey, the original Jane Roe who is now an anti-choice activist, to reopen Roe v. Wade.
The U.S. Department of Justice – in defending the constitutionality of the first-ever federal law criminalizing abortion – is arguing in court that there is no federal protection for doctor-patient confidentiality, and that prosecutors should be allowed to comb through the private medical records of thousands of American women.
Michelman further stated that the news of a potential retirement could increase participation in the pro-choice March for Women’s Lives in Washington, DC on April 25: “At times like this, it is more important than ever that the pro-choice majority stand up and make our voices heard. We must make sure that the President, and every U.S. Senator, understands how passionate Americans are about keeping a pro-choice majority on the Supreme Court.”

[DaveSZ]

1. .

We can't let the chimp pack the Supreme Court or our country is fucked.

I'm supporting Kerry to save the Supreme Court even though I only have lukewarm feelings towards him.

[yardwork]

2. It's considered bad form for a Justice to retire in an election year.

But what does Rehnquist care?

[gristy]

3. I'd be surprised if he retires this year.

He'll wait 'till next.

[Pegleg Thd]

4. I think that he will wait

until after the election just in case the boy bastard he him to make the 'selection' again..

[Hippo_Tron]

5. At least it's a conservative justice who's retireing...

On the other hand, if Chimp gets to appoint the next chief justice I bet it will be either Thomas or Scalia. Probably Thomas so that if the dems try to fillibuster, Bush can make them look racist.

[Lefty48197]

6. He wants to retire now so that the RW senate can make Scalia the Chief

I say we should dissolve the entire court. Lay em all off, and sell their robes on e-bay to help offset the Bush deficit.

[Victimerican]

7. I don't think he'll retire this year...but...

If Rehnquist wanted Bush to be the one to appoint his successor, he would have retired a long enough time ago that a filibuster by the Dems could be spun as them trying to cripple the court system. He's healthy enough that he can last another 4, or 8 years, if need be. If Bush wins, I see him retiring earlier, but if Kerry wins, I think he'll go one, or maybe two more terms waiting for a Republican to get Scalia into his position.

Why Scalia? Thomas is too controversial, and will almost certainly be filibustered. He was only appointed to the court by a 4 vote margin while Bush (41) was at the height of his popularity. Not to mention the Anita Hill thing was never really settled, so he'll have to fight that again if he were to be CJ, and with Bush out of office in November, it'll take too long.

Scalia, on the other hand, was appointed quickly and unanimously, and I don't see the Dems being able to keep a group opposed to his nomination to CJ long enough.

Another option to consider is if Rehnquist does retire this year, the Dems to attempt to filibuster lasts until the election, and it's a close one, the Repubs could trade the Presidency for the CJship..eg, Kerry convinces the dems to a 1 vote majority to allow Rehnquist to CJ, and a moderately conservative judge to the court, in return for Bush's resignation.

I wouldn't want to be Kerry if he had to decide that one...

[TomSeaverr]

8. They won't get thier far right judges

Collins, Snowe, Chafee, Hagel, etc will side with the Dems. They will have to put a moderate in my opinion.