Changes

The [[United States Senate|Senate’s]] defeat of [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan’s]] nomination of Robert Bork to the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] in 1987 was a watershed, because it was purely political.  A majority of senators felt Bork was too conservative, and the attacks and ultimate rejection of his nomination became known as “Borking” a presidential pick.  He later wrote a popular book describing the politicization of the judiciary.

The [[United States Senate|Senate’s]] defeat of [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|Reagan’s]] nomination of Robert Bork to the [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] in 1987 was a watershed, because it was purely political.  A majority of senators felt Bork was too conservative, and the attacks and ultimate rejection of his nomination became known as “Borking” a presidential pick.  He later wrote a popular book describing the politicization of the judiciary.

[[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will likely complete his current term without picking a single [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice.  This is surprising because several vacancies were expected.  Chief Justice Rehnquist in particular, nearly 80 years old, was expected to step down so that a Republican [[President of the United States of America|president]] could choose his replacement.  It is possible that [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] talked him out of retiring in the hopes that Republicans will have greater power in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] after the 2004 elections, and that [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will still be in power.  This is risky: libreal Justices Brennan and Marshall decided against retiring during [[President of the United States of America|President]] Carter’s term, but then faced 12 long years of Republican control of the White House.  Old age forced Justices Brennan and Marshall reluctantly to retire in the meantime, during the first [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] term, and their spots were filled by Justices Souter and Thomas.

[[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will likely complete his current term without picking a single [[U.S. Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] justice.  This is surprising because several vacancies were expected.  Chief Justice Rehnquist in particular, nearly 80 years old, was expected to step down so that a [[Republican Party|Republican]] [[President of the United States of America|president]] could choose his replacement.  It is possible that [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush]] talked him out of retiring in the hopes that [[Republican Party|Republican]]s will have greater power in the [[United States Senate|Senate]] after the 2004 elections, and that [[George W. Bush|Bush]] will still be in power.  This is risky: libreal Justices Brennan and Marshall decided against retiring during [[President of the United States of America|President]] Carter’s term, but then faced 12 long years of [[Republican Party|Republican]] control of the White House.  Old age forced Justices Brennan and Marshall reluctantly to retire in the meantime, during the first [[President of the United States of America|President]] [[George W. Bush|Bush’s]] term, and their spots were filled by Justices Souter and Thomas.