Gan
08-30-2005, 05:28 PM
ORANGE, California (AP) -- U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia blasted what he called "judge moralists" and the infusion of politics into judicial appointments Monday after joining law students in a re-enactment of a 100-year-old landmark case.
Speaking before a packed auditorium at Chapman University, Scalia said he was saddened to see the Supreme Court deciding moral issues not addressed in the Constitution, such as abortion, gay rights and the death penalty. He said such questions should be settled by Congress or state legislatures beholden to the people.
"I am questioning the propriety -- indeed, the sanity -- of having a value-laden decision such as this made for the entire society ... by unelected judges," he said.
Scalia also railed against the principle of the "living Constitution," saying it has led the Senate to try to appoint so-called politically "moderate" judges instead of focusing on professional credentials and ability.
"Now the Senate is looking for moderate judges, mainstream judges. What in the world is a moderate interpretation of a constitutional text? Halfway between what it says and what we'd like it to say?" he said, to laughter and applause.
Scalia didn't make any direct references to the looming confirmation battle for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, but he did allude to it.
"Each year the conflict over judicial appointments has grown more intense," he said. "One is tempted to shield his eyes from the upcoming spectacle."
(more at the below link)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/08/30/scalia.re.enactment.ap/index.html
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I couldnt agree more. I guess this is where I dont see eye to eye with my more 'right winged' Republican associates. I guess I'm just not a fan or organized religion or what its evolved into. I think it deserves a lot of credit for what it has inspired with regards to the founding of our country; however, I think each person deserves the freedom to be as involved as they choose to be (not just which religion they choose to participate in as constitutionally interpreted), not as society or our politicians choose us to be. Perhaps I just have an authority complex when it comes to that. :shrug:
[Edited on 8-30-2005 by Ganalon]
Speaking before a packed auditorium at Chapman University, Scalia said he was saddened to see the Supreme Court deciding moral issues not addressed in the Constitution, such as abortion, gay rights and the death penalty. He said such questions should be settled by Congress or state legislatures beholden to the people.
"I am questioning the propriety -- indeed, the sanity -- of having a value-laden decision such as this made for the entire society ... by unelected judges," he said.
Scalia also railed against the principle of the "living Constitution," saying it has led the Senate to try to appoint so-called politically "moderate" judges instead of focusing on professional credentials and ability.
"Now the Senate is looking for moderate judges, mainstream judges. What in the world is a moderate interpretation of a constitutional text? Halfway between what it says and what we'd like it to say?" he said, to laughter and applause.
Scalia didn't make any direct references to the looming confirmation battle for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, but he did allude to it.
"Each year the conflict over judicial appointments has grown more intense," he said. "One is tempted to shield his eyes from the upcoming spectacle."
(more at the below link)
http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/08/30/scalia.re.enactment.ap/index.html
__________________________________
I couldnt agree more. I guess this is where I dont see eye to eye with my more 'right winged' Republican associates. I guess I'm just not a fan or organized religion or what its evolved into. I think it deserves a lot of credit for what it has inspired with regards to the founding of our country; however, I think each person deserves the freedom to be as involved as they choose to be (not just which religion they choose to participate in as constitutionally interpreted), not as society or our politicians choose us to be. Perhaps I just have an authority complex when it comes to that. :shrug:
[Edited on 8-30-2005 by Ganalon]