Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed as the next Supreme Court Justice with a vote of 68-31.
No surprise except for the number of Republicans who are willing to risk getting bounced out of office next term. Senator McCain is the primary example due to the increasing strength of minorities in Arizona.
Sotomayor may be the most scrutinized new Justice in history after critics say she cannot be race-neutral in forming her opinion. Certainly, the liberal bench welcomes her. Certainly, she has a long history of experience on the bench. What I found lacking was any real depth in her written opinions so we will have to wait for a couple of months to see what she really has in the way of the Judicial pen.
President Obama will no doubt brag about this feat and try to hog the media spotlight for being the great savior of the US Justice system. But, there may be flashback against him if controversial opinions are decided by her vote instead of Kennedy's. People still remember Kelo and certainly conservatives will be waiting for her to make herself known as a super liberal.
Watch for a long line of litigants trying to get in the front door of the Supreme Court- I predict that within the next 5 years gay rights and marriage cases will come pouring in. Only a rare few will get Cert. but the issue will get heard. The chance of unrest in the nation would increase with something such as an overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act. The President says he supports the Act, but we all suspect he lacks firm convictions on the matter and is hugely aware of how he came to be seated in the Executive Office.
Even health care- long confined to the Federal Circuit- will raise it's ugly head in terms to come.
I do hope for Sonia Sotomayor to have success and show moderation and good reason on the bench.
That will do much more for good relations in America than having a beer with the good 'ole boys.
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