Actually, with the four on the right, and with the four on the left, we have a court balanced perfectly around one justice. So, one man will control one third of the government. 2006 will be a year in which Anthony Kennedy will wield a sharper and more powerful sword than George W. Bush.Even though I've said things like this myself, I think it underestimates the intellectual and charismatic powers of the new Chief Justice. So I want to make a different prediction for what 2006 will be like for the Supreme Court: Kennedy will work with John Roberts to forge a newly coherent moderate-conservative position. The project of creating an articulate moderate position will be so compelling and promise such benefits that Stephen Breyer will contribute his formidable skills, and we will see the era of fragmented, ad hoc decisionmaking come to an end.
December 31, 2005
My New Year's prediction for the Supreme Court.
Yesterday, I blogged about William Safire's predictions about what the Supreme Court would do in a handful of cases. This led to some more generalized speculation in the comments, and Eli wrote:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
5 comments:
Brylin, Ann said nothing about Kennedy surrendering his independence. Working with Roberts would be different than working for Roberts. It implies that Roberts would have to give something back. And for that matter we still don't REALLY know how conservative Roberts will be.
And Ann, I think this is the boldest prediction for 2006 I have read. The end of ad hoc decision making? I'll believe it when I read the history books about it way in the future!
I predict that there will be another vacancy this year.
"and we will see the era of fragmented, ad hoc decisionmaking come to an end."
Golly, Prof. Althouse, tell us what you really thought of Justice O'Connor. (I think you have already let it slip from time to time)
(I'm guessing not all positive, and that you aren't entirely displeased to see her retirement, regardless of political leaning)
That would be interesting, and possibly even usher in a new era of bipartisanship, if you could have a Breyer-Kennedy-Roberts 'coalition of the center.'
We will see if you are right.
Post a Comment