Juxtatarot
Footballguy
I have no idea how this poll will play out.
We should have started educating the Swedish bikini team in the law a long time ago...They're all pretty.
I'll do it for you, since you're more predictable than the Bears' offense.I'll do you one better.
I'll rank them...stay tuned.
Thomas is in last place for me. He is the worst since I've been alive.I'll do it for you, since you're more predictable than the Bears' offense.
1. Thomas
2. Cavanaugh
3. Barrett
4. Gorsuch
5. Alito
6. Roberts
7. Breyer
8. Kagan
9. Sotomayor
Would be in the bottom ten if we did an all-time poll.Thomas is in last place for me. He is the worst since I've been alive.
For what my take is worth as an amateur court watcher with no legal background, Sotomayor is my favorite of the left leaning block. I feel like she is one of the justices more likely to go with first principles rather than reason backwards from a verdict. Gorsuch strikes me as similar from the right / libertarian side.No love for Breyer, who is praised by both sides for being a pragmatist. He often brings balancing gray to the black and white. He doesn't have an overriding constitutional philosophy and he doesn’t seek to squeeze idealogical views into a ruling. He tries to find ways to make government work.
That said, I voted for Justice Sotomayor. She does more to defend the rights of marginalized members of society than anyone else on the current SCotUS, while staying well within what she believes is consistent with the Constitution and precedent.
Is that like a nice way of saying dumb as a box of rocks?Kagan is the best writer. Roberts is the best decider. Thomas is the most heterodox. Breyer might be the smartest.
He's definitely not dumb. I think a heterodox approach, increasing the diversity of viewpoints in a crowd of nine, is a good thing.Is that like a nice way of saying dumb as a box of rocks?
Objectively I'd regard all nine as brilliant.He's definitely not dumb.
I don’t disagree with this. I also really like Roberts’ writing style.Kagan is the best writer. Roberts is the best decider. Thomas is the most heterodox. Breyer might be the smartest.
Good postingI don’t disagree with this. I also really like Roberts’ writing style.
Quite frankly there isn’t much I don’t like about Roberts.
I think Roberts is picking up votes from left-leaners.Are there a lot of left-leaning posters picking right-leaning justices here? I can’t figure out why Kagan, Breyer, and Sotomayor are only getting a combined 25% on this board.
Or maybe, just maybe this board is not the echo chamber many would have you believe - unless Anti-Trump constitutes an echo chamber but thankfully he's just a <redacted so I don't get a timeout>.Are there a lot of left-leaning posters picking right-leaning justices here? I can’t figure out why Kagan, Breyer, and Sotomayor are only getting a combined 25% on this board.
This is me. I have a ton of respect for him. It was between him and Sotomayor.Juxtatarot said:I think Roberts is picking up votes from left-leaners.fatguyinalittlecoat said:Are there a lot of left-leaning posters picking right-leaning justices here? I can’t figure out why Kagan, Breyer, and Sotomayor are only getting a combined 25% on this board.
My guess is name familiarity. If you asked this same question of lawyers only I think you’d get different results. I’d be willing to bet less than one on ten non-lawyers has read a full opinion by the sitting justices. Same reason I think superior court judges shouldn’t be elected by the public.fatguyinalittlecoat said:Are there a lot of left-leaning posters picking right-leaning justices here? I can’t figure out why Kagan, Breyer, and Sotomayor are only getting a combined 25% on this board.
Time to whip your peeps into line.fatguyinalittlecoat said:Are there a lot of left-leaning posters picking right-leaning justices here? I can’t figure out why Kagan, Breyer, and Sotomayor are only getting a combined 25% on this board.
Gravitas? Maybe. Competence? 6 of the 9 are demonstrably competent.When you think about justices like Oliver Wendell Holmes, John Marshall, Earl Warren, Joseph Story, etc. it makes it really stark how ridiculously thin this group is in terms of competence and gravitas.
Gravitas? Maybe. Competence? 6 of the 9 are demonstrably competent.
SameThis is me. I have a ton of respect for him. It was between him and Sotomayor.
Another way to look at it is that these folks weren't subjected to clown-show nomination circuses, and they worked during an era when social media didn't exist, SCOTUS justices didn't do high-profile speaking engagements, and so on. It was easier for folks to remain distant and project a sense of detached cool-headedness back then.When you think about justices like Oliver Wendell Holmes, John Marshall, Earl Warren, Joseph Story, etc. it makes it really stark how ridiculously thin this group is in terms of competence and gravitas.
I voted for her. She's not my fav but there was no "All of the above" choice.But how does ACB have four votes? Has she really even done much of anything yet?
Another difference between the justices I called out and the ones today is I don't think anyone could question the provenance of their contribution to the legal landscape before taking the bench as a SCOTUS justice.Another way to look at it is that these folks weren't subjected to clown-show nomination circuses, and they worked during an era when social media didn't exist, SCOTUS justices didn't do high-profile speaking engagements, and so on. It was easier for folks to remain distant and project a sense of detached cool-headedness back then.
Same with journalists.
I think Roberts’ reputation is that good.fatguyinalittlecoat said:Are there a lot of left-leaning posters picking right-leaning justices here? I can’t figure out why Kagan, Breyer, and Sotomayor are only getting a combined 25% on this board.
This feels like a glass is half full take. Which is fine, but Thomas' inconsistency puts him at the bottom for me. His reasoning is just terrible at times IMHO.He's definitely not dumb. I think a heterodox approach, increasing the diversity of viewpoints in a crowd of nine, is a good thing.