New Supreme Court Term: Tobacco Industry and Dirty Words
The United States Supreme Court will reunite again for the new year. The justice took a break July 26, lasting several months. This week, however, they will get back to business.
During the next court term the Supreme Court will, among other issues, deal with the tobacco industry and ‘a government crackdown on dirty words on television.’ Furthermore they will hear a case related to protecting whales from Navy sonar.
The last term was ended in quite a controversial manner. The court came to landmark rulings on issues as far reaching as gun control and Guantanamo Bay prisoners ’seeking their release.’
The next American president will likely be able to appoint several new justices, making the presidential elections even more important. During his presidency George W. Bush was able to appoint several conservative, or ‘constitutionalist,’ judges who adhered to a very strict interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, giving more rights to states, and less power and authority to the federal government.
If Barack Obama becomes president it is likely that he will do what Bush did but than from the other side of the medal. He will undoubtedly appoint more progressive judges, who believe the U.S. Constitution is a ‘living document’ and which should be interpreted according to the needs of society over time.
McCain, on the other hand, promised the conservative base to do what Bush did: appoint solid, conservative judges with a (long) record of opposing what they consider to be unconstitutional expansion of the government.
Many argue that appointing justices is the most important role of the U.S. president. To a degree, they may very well be right; justices influence the direction of the country for years, even decades. Individuals policies all too often only for months, a couple of years tops.
