When retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor heard she would be replaced by John Roberts, she deemed him "good in every way except that he's not a woman." Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she is "lonely" among her eight male colleagues. David Souter's resignation gives President Obama his first chance to nominate a Supreme Court justice, and he wants, "excellence," "integrity" and "empathy." Does "empathy" mean that he wants a woman, and if so, why? Conservatives fear he wants a justice who legislates from the bench. Should the next justice be liberal or conservative? Is there any such thing as non-ideological? Is it time for the first Hispanic? Whoever Obama's choice might be will Republicans just say "no?"
Who Should Be Next on the US Supreme Court?
Credits
Guests:
- Dahlia Lithwick - Author; Senior legal affairs correspondent, Slate; podcast host, Amicus podcast - @@Dahlialithwick
- Christina Boyd - Political Scientist, Washington University
- Curt Levey - Executive Director, Committee for Justice
- Douglas Kmiec - Pepperdine University - @dougkmiec