Should Ginsburg Retire?

Posted by | June 3, 2014 22:20 | Filed under: Contributors Opinion Politics Stuart Shapiro Top Stories


Ultimately, of course, it is her business.  But if she does not decide to step aside at the end of the Supreme Court term in the next few weeks, she risks making a mistake that has been all-too-common for liberal justices:

The six most conservative justices, based on their voting patterns, to have retired in the last 50 years all left the bench under a Republican president. By contrast, only one of the six most liberal justices has departed when a Democrat was president.

In all, Republican presidents have named 12 of the 20 Supreme Court justices since 1960 — even though the two parties have fought to a draw in presidential elections over that period, each winning seven.

Certainly, conservatives are hoping that this liberal justice decides to stay on the bench.

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Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.

10 responses to Should Ginsburg Retire?

  1. Budda June 3rd, 2014 at 23:14

    I’ve wondered about the timing of replacements on the Supreme Court for a while. Some of these old timers need to retire so Obama can nominate some YOUNG folks. The alternative might be a bunch of old fart conservatives.

  2. Budda June 3rd, 2014 at 23:14

    I’ve wondered about the timing of replacements on the Supreme Court for a while. Some of these old timers need to retire so Obama can nominate some YOUNG folks. The alternative might be a bunch of old fart conservatives.

  3. Dwendt44 June 4th, 2014 at 00:21

    She has indicated that she’s able and willing to serve for some time to come, so she’s staying. The best we can hope for is that Democrats keep the majority in the Senate. Even then the Republicans will do anything and everything to keep a real liberal off the bench. They’ll filibuster and block any way they can and grill any candidate the President puts up.

  4. Dwendt44 June 4th, 2014 at 00:21

    She has indicated that she’s able and willing to serve for some time to come, so she’s staying. The best we can hope for is that Democrats keep the majority in the Senate. Even then the Republicans will do anything and everything to keep a real liberal off the bench. They’ll filibuster and block any way they can and grill any candidate the President puts up.

  5. Shades June 4th, 2014 at 09:02

    I’m torn. The selfish part of me would like to see a younger liberal assigned to the court, but I’m not going to admit to it publicly.

  6. Shades June 4th, 2014 at 09:02

    I’m torn. The selfish part of me would like to see a younger liberal assigned to the court, but I’m not going to admit to it publicly.

  7. Foundryman June 7th, 2014 at 15:03

    I don’t know about Ginsburg, but Scalia should definitely retire or be kicked out.

  8. Foundryman June 7th, 2014 at 15:03

    I don’t know about Ginsburg, but Scalia should definitely retire or be kicked out.

    • Obewon June 7th, 2014 at 15:35

      Any Justice ‘forgetting’ to report $700,000+ in recent Koch bros payola as uncle Thomas did, deserves indictment, trial & prison. Not retirement. For 20 years Thomas neglected to annually list required ‘spousal income’ conflict of interest bribes paid to his green foam hat wearing wife.’Good morn’n Anita Hill, izz drunk Ginni Thomas. Hicup’-7:31 AM. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/us/politics/20thomas.html?_r=0

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