Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor has left the Court, which now has only one moderate; one swing voter - Justice Anthony Kennedy. What this means is that the other eight justices may as well not come to work on days when the Court decides its most important, most divisive issues. The Court's four solid liberals and four stalwart conservatives will simply cancel each other out, meaning that the only opinion that really matters is that of Justice Kennedy. Thus, all eyes are on Justice Kennedy.
The Supreme Court will soon be hearing cases involving such divisive issues as abortion, affirmative action, credit reports, deportation, power plant emissions, prison sentences, punitive damages, and union fees. It is in cases involving the previously mentioned issues that the Court tends to divide along party lines.... except for Justice Kennedy, the Court's sole maverick.
Of course, party affiliation should not matter when it comes to the nation's highest judiciary. In fact, the Constitution forbids the Court from hearing cases involving politics. But alas..... Constitution, Schmonstitution. You can bet the Court will be doing a hell of a lot more than merely interpreting laws and deciding whether or not legislative bills and executive actions are Constitutional, which are the Supreme Court's Constitutional functions. The Court will be deciding cases that, in effect, make new laws and shatter old laws. And now it all comes down to Justice Kennedy......
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