. . . this election could have a huge impact on the future of the Court. Even if a reelected Obama gets to relace two liberal justices with younger liberals or Romney gets to replace two conservatives with younger conservatives, that will still have a profound impact. There’s a big difference between a justice who is likely to be around for only a few more years, and one who could well serve for thirty years or more. Given increasing life expectancies, a justice who is in his or her early fifties when appointed could easily serve until 2050 or even later.Note the could in the first sentence. It might or might not have "a huge impact on the Court." Perhaps that unknown is why few are discussing it. However, let's assume that the two appointments occur and that they do so in 2014 before both parties are gearing up for the 2016 presidential election. Professor Somin assumes that these new justices might serve beyond the year 2050. A fifty-year-old appointee in 2014 would have to serve until they are 88 in order to still be on the court in 2050. Since professor Somin is assuming that Supreme Court justices serve until they are 88, which Supreme Court justices will be 88 during the next presidential term?
Showing posts with label elections that could have consequences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elections that could have consequences. Show all posts
Friday, October 12, 2012
Strange math and strange predictions
George Mason University School of Law professor Ilya Somin has a post about how little coverage is being paid to the possibility that President Obama or Mitt Romney will get to pick a Supreme Court justice during the next four years. Professor Somin writes
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