WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama pledged Friday to name a Supreme Court justice who combines "empathy and understanding” with an impeccable legal background to succeed liberal David Souter, whose abrupt retirement announcement set off speculation the next justice could be a woman, a Hispanic or both.
Obama, who will be making the first high court nomination by a Democrat in 15 years, referred to his plan to have "him or her” on the bench in time for the Supreme Court’s session that begins the first Monday of October.
"I will seek someone who understands that justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book. It is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives,” said the president in a surprise appearance in the White House Press Room moments after speaking with Souter by telephone.
Obama promised to consult with both parties on his choice.
Souter’s retirement gives Obama an early chance to place his stamp on the nine-member high court, possibly by naming a minority — a second black or the court’s first Hispanic — or a second woman, as well as to affirm if not strengthen its support for abortion rights. As a candidate for the White House, he said he would not use a litmus test for nominees, but observed that he thought the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that gave women the right to end their pregnancies was correctly decided.
Souter, 69, was named to the court in 1990 by former President George H. W. Bush, a Republican. But on abortion as well as other issues, the New Hampshire native quickly proved himself to be less than the strong conservative the GOP had expected.
Democrats will be in a strong position when Obama’s nominee arrives for confirmation.
by the associated press
Obama, who will be making the first high court nomination by a Democrat in 15 years, referred to his plan to have "him or her” on the bench in time for the Supreme Court’s session that begins the first Monday of October.
"I will seek someone who understands that justice isn’t about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book. It is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people’s lives,” said the president in a surprise appearance in the White House Press Room moments after speaking with Souter by telephone.
Obama promised to consult with both parties on his choice.
Souter’s retirement gives Obama an early chance to place his stamp on the nine-member high court, possibly by naming a minority — a second black or the court’s first Hispanic — or a second woman, as well as to affirm if not strengthen its support for abortion rights. As a candidate for the White House, he said he would not use a litmus test for nominees, but observed that he thought the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that gave women the right to end their pregnancies was correctly decided.
Souter, 69, was named to the court in 1990 by former President George H. W. Bush, a Republican. But on abortion as well as other issues, the New Hampshire native quickly proved himself to be less than the strong conservative the GOP had expected.
Democrats will be in a strong position when Obama’s nominee arrives for confirmation.
by the associated press
No comments:
Post a Comment