The New Republic- Twenty years ago, Chief Justice John Roberts took the oath of office and ushered in a new era for the Supreme Court. His 2005 confirmation vote marked the transition from the Rehnquist court—where a narrow majority of conservatives and moderates had largely maintained the status quo on abortion, affirmative action, and voting rights—into something much more reactionary.
At his swearing-in ceremony, the new chief justice spoke eloquently about the immense weight of the court’s duty to preserve the U.S. constitutional order. “What Daniel Webster termed ‘the miracle of our Constitution’ is not something that happens every generation,” Roberts said in his remarks. “But every generation in its turn must accept the responsibility of supporting and defending the Constitution, and bearing true faith and allegiance to it.”
“That is the oath that I just took,” he continued. “I will try to ensure, in the discharge of my responsibilities, that, with the help of my colleagues, I can pass on to my children’s generation a charter of self-government as strong and as vibrant as the one that Chief Justice Rehnquist passed on to us.”
The United States is less democratic, less self-governing, more dysfunctional, and more corrupt than it was 20 years ago, thanks in large part to the Supreme Court’s rulings.
By that standard, the Roberts court has failed. The United States is less democratic, less self-governing, more dysfunctional, and more corrupt than it was 20 years ago, thanks in large part to the Supreme Court’s rulings. Many of its most important decisions—on campaign finance, on voting rights, on gerrymandering, and on the separation of powers—have left us less able to resolve political questions and issues than any previous generation has been.
No comments:
Post a Comment