Justice Ginsburg Hints of Supreme Court Vacancy

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg speaks to students at New England Law School in Boston Friday, March 13, 2009. Ginsburg said advice and camaraderie from her fellow justices have helped her in her fight against pancreatic cancer. The 75-year-old had surgery last month to remove a small malignant tumor but returned to the bench without missing a day of work.

United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hinted today that there may be soon a vacancy on the nation’s highest court.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg told law students there could be an opening on the Supreme Court soon but didn’t hint at who might be leaving.

Ginsburg spoke Friday at New England Law’s annual “Law Day.”

In a question-and-answer session, she said the nine justices only take pictures together when a new member is added. She said: “We haven’t had any of those for some time, but surely we will soon.”

Of course, it depends upon the definition of soon. But, Justice Ginsburg is recovering from pancreatic cancer, undergoing chemotherapy and could possibly be contemplating retirement. She is 75.

Politically, Ginsburg one of the most left-leaning Justices could be reassured that President Obama could appoint and obtain confirmation from another committed “Traveller” since the Democrat Party enjoys a near veto proof majority in the United States Senate. This could change in 2010 – so a window of opportunity may exist now.

Stay tuned……

Technorati Tags: Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

4 Comments

Joey

March 13, 2009 at 9:05 pm

Yeah, it could change in 2010… odds are the change will be to a FULLY veto proof majority. Atleast at this time the GOP has a SLIVER of hope of influencing any nomine Obama has, from 2010-2016 they don’t appear to have a chance at all. It’s sad really, but the fact is the country is a Center-left country (to the dismay/denial of O’reily/Hannity) and as long as canidates stay either Far Right or Far Left, the Far left is going to dominate. Where is the group that represents the middle, the canidates that are Pro-choice, Pro-Human Rights for all (READ: Same sex marriage/rights), Pro restoring the gap between the bosses and the employee salary (since most people are employees and not bosses, where the gap has increased from 10:1 in the 1970’s to over 100:1 now a days) but doesn’t want a huge government interferring with all aspects (which, anti-choice, anti-gay marriage anti-science research etc are very invasive into peoples lives, which is suppose to be against the foundation of the GOP: we will protect you (military), we will provide limited but necessary oversight to the free market, but besides that we will stay out of your way: marry who you want, do what you want with your body, and let other people do what they want… thats what originally attracted me to the GOP but the more the party drifts towards the Social (ie Religious) Conservatives. Government isn’t suppose to dictate anything to its people, especially Morals and Ethics. I find this worse then “social programs”. And it is what is alienating the country and turning the GOP into a regional party, and if the Social Conservatives continue to dictate the party, it’s going to completely destroy it. So you might want Ginsburg out sooner than later.

Flap

March 13, 2009 at 9:13 pm

Joey,

You are buying into the left-wing dogma way too much.

Ginsburg already is the most left-wing Justice on the Supreme Court. Her replacement would not be with a Justice anymore left-wing – just younger.

Since Obama polling numbers are in the tank (below Bush at the same time in his Presidency) there is no guarantee at this time that he will be around past 2012 anyway.

History is on the side of the GOP to win more seats in the Senate in 2010. And, recent polls show possible pick-ups in Delaware and Connecticut besides Colorado and Nevada.

Joey

March 13, 2009 at 9:27 pm

Where are you seeing these polling numbers in the tank? Care to point me towards them, cause as I see it on realclearpolitics.com linked from Foxnews itself, he still has a 60.8 approval rating, while the average for Bush in the early months of his presidency hoovered around 55 (www.hist.umn.edu/~ruggles/approval.htm).

What history are you speaking of for gaining seats? 2006 and 2008 were abmysmal years, and the dysfunction is worse than ever. Many more GOP seats are up for re-election, and I don’t see much hope.

Flap

March 13, 2009 at 9:35 pm

The polling numbers for Chris Dodd and Beau Biden are here at Flapsblog. Just search under their names.

The Wall Street Journal poll discussion re: Obama falling poll numbers is here and will be posted again at my links in a few hours: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123690358175013837.html.

2006 and 2008 were abysmal years but 2010 has some winnable open Senate seats courtesy of Obama appointments, e.g. Colorado, New York, Illinois and Delaware.

Plus, Harry Reid is vulnerable in Nevada.

Granted the GOP will not win them all but maybe in the running for enough seats to keep a filibuster possible.

Joey

March 13, 2009 at 9:05 pm

Yeah, it could change in 2010… odds are the change will be to a FULLY veto proof majority. Atleast at this time the GOP has a SLIVER of hope of influencing any nomine Obama has, from 2010-2016 they don’t appear to have a chance at all. It’s sad really, but the fact is the country is a Center-left country (to the dismay/denial of O’reily/Hannity) and as long as canidates stay either Far Right or Far Left, the Far left is going to dominate. Where is the group that represents the middle, the canidates that are Pro-choice, Pro-Human Rights for all (READ: Same sex marriage/rights), Pro restoring the gap between the bosses and the employee salary (since most people are employees and not bosses, where the gap has increased from 10:1 in the 1970’s to over 100:1 now a days) but doesn’t want a huge government interferring with all aspects (which, anti-choice, anti-gay marriage anti-science research etc are very invasive into peoples lives, which is suppose to be against the foundation of the GOP: we will protect you (military), we will provide limited but necessary oversight to the free market, but besides that we will stay out of your way: marry who you want, do what you want with your body, and let other people do what they want… thats what originally attracted me to the GOP but the more the party drifts towards the Social (ie Religious) Conservatives. Government isn’t suppose to dictate anything to its people, especially Morals and Ethics. I find this worse then “social programs”. And it is what is alienating the country and turning the GOP into a regional party, and if the Social Conservatives continue to dictate the party, it’s going to completely destroy it. So you might want Ginsburg out sooner than later.
Flap

March 13, 2009 at 9:13 pm

Joey,

You are buying into the left-wing dogma way too much.

Ginsburg already is the most left-wing Justice on the Supreme Court. Her replacement would not be with a Justice anymore left-wing – just younger.

Since Obama polling numbers are in the tank (below Bush at the same time in his Presidency) there is no guarantee at this time that he will be around past 2012 anyway.

History is on the side of the GOP to win more seats in the Senate in 2010. And, recent polls show possible pick-ups in Delaware and Connecticut besides Colorado and Nevada.
Joey

March 13, 2009 at 9:27 pm

Where are you seeing these polling numbers in the tank? Care to point me towards them, cause as I see it on realclearpolitics.com linked from Foxnews itself, he still has a 60.8 approval rating, while the average for Bush in the early months of his presidency hoovered around 55 (www.hist.umn.edu/~ruggles/approval.htm).

What history are you speaking of for gaining seats? 2006 and 2008 were abmysmal years, and the dysfunction is worse than ever. Many more GOP seats are up for re-election, and I don’t see much hope.
Flap

March 13, 2009 at 9:35 pm

The polling numbers for Chris Dodd and Beau Biden are here at Flapsblog. Just search under their names.

The Wall Street Journal poll discussion re: Obama falling poll numbers is here and will be posted again at my links in a few hours: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123690358175013837.html.

2006 and 2008 were abysmal years but 2010 has some winnable open Senate seats courtesy of Obama appointments, e.g. Colorado, New York, Illinois and Delaware.

Plus, Harry Reid is vulnerable in Nevada.

Granted the GOP will not win them all but maybe in the running for enough seats to keep a filibuster possible.