Friday, July 01, 2005

Let the Nightmare Begin!

Sandra Day O'Connor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, has announced her retirement effective upon the confirmation of her successor.

"The retirement of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor from the United States Supreme Court opens a battle for the legal soul of the nation." - BBC

Here we go, folks. The Court has been largely centrist for nearly twenty years, and this is Dubya's big chance to recast the highest echelon of the Judiciary Branch in his own ideological mold. If he succeeds and the Court shifts to the right, we can see a rollback of many of the legal standards we've grown accustomed to - and, let's face it, a lot of the decisions in recent years will likely be reversed or modified.

Roe v Wade? This landmark bit of abortion legislation will likely be the first victim of a rightist Court. Another victim could be Lawrence v Texas, which decriminalized sodomy. Residents of Massachusetts, Vermont and Connecticut can also expect the Court to stomp on civil union laws as well as same-sex marriage. A lot of 5-4 decisions will become 4-5 decisions, and the legal landscape will start to shift.

Hurry! Hurry! Hurry! Step right up and see the Greatest Three-ring Circus this year! We've got bears and bulls, reds and blues, liberals and conservatives! We've even got George the Monkey Boy, now on limited engagement till 2006! Come one! Come all! And see the show!

I laugh to keep from screaming.

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