Daily Kos :: Comments Why do Supreme Court justices often shift leftward?

not O'Connor and Kennedy (none / 0)

But Stevens, Souter, Brennan, and Warren all shifted significantly to the left.

"See a world of tanks, ruled by a world of banks." —Sol Invictus

by Delirium on Tue Oct 04, 2005 at 08:29:59 AM PDT

[ Parent ]
- I still disagree (none / 0)
  
  OK, Brennan maybe. But while Stevens' positions have evolved slightly, I think he remains within the conservative tradition and only looks liberal compared to the far-right justices appointed more recently. The Court has shifted right more than he has shifted left.
  Souter hasn't "moved to the left" at all IMHO; the Republicans didn't know what they were getting and it turned out he wasn't the far rightist the elder Bush sold him as being.
  Warren is the most interesting figure. I've read some interesting stuff about behind the scenes pressure on him to help the US out in Cold War propaganda by pushing the Court to issue some rulings that Southern seggies hated. I'm not so sure that marks an evolution to the left or just a very pragmatic Cold Warrior orientation.
  
  Illegal is not a noun
  
  by Colorado Luis on Tue Oct 04, 2005 at 08:40:08 AM PDT
  
  [ Parent ]
  - There's Harry Blackmun. (none / 0)
    
    A clear-cut case of a justice shifting left during his tenure on the bench.
    
    by Desroko on Tue Oct 04, 2005 at 09:39:23 AM PDT
    
    [ Parent ]
    - Now that I think of it (none / 0)
      
      Stevens has definitely evolved on some issues. I agree that the court itself has shifted right in his time, but that doesn't explain his shrinking support for the death penalty.
      
      by Desroko on Tue Oct 04, 2005 at 09:41:03 AM PDT
      
      [ Parent ]
    - Yes (none / 0)
      
      Nixon thought he was getting another Burger when he nominated Blackmun, but Blackmun turned out to be a moderate liberal. And, after Brennan and Marshall retired (the last real liberals on the Court) Blackmun was made to look like a big liberal.
      
      by metal prophet on Tue Oct 04, 2005 at 09:50:29 AM PDT
      
      [ Parent ]

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not O'Connor and Kennedy (none / 0)

I still disagree (none / 0)

There's Harry Blackmun. (none / 0)

Now that I think of it (none / 0)

Yes (none / 0)

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