Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice? Forum

(Study Tips, Dealing With Stress, Maintaining a Social Life, Financial Aid, Internships, Bar Exam, Careers in Law . . . )
User avatar
Eugenie Danglars

Gold
Posts: 2353
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:04 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Eugenie Danglars » Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:49 am

I like anyone who quotes "an uncommonly silly law," at least temporarily

the lantern

Bronze
Posts: 368
Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 8:47 am

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by the lantern » Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:44 pm

Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.

User avatar
Flips88

Diamond
Posts: 15246
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 7:42 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Flips88 » Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:11 pm

the lantern wrote:Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.
Scalia's dissent in Lawrence and also in Romer v. Evans are probably the two most offensive modern legal opinions I've encountered. Hate that guy.

User avatar
reformed calvinist

Bronze
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:58 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by reformed calvinist » Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:32 pm

Thurexcellent Marshall, Brennan.

My Ks prof got me to appreciate Ellen Peters, but she's not SCOTUS.
Last edited by reformed calvinist on Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
crossarmant

Silver
Posts: 1116
Joined: Fri Jan 14, 2011 8:01 am

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by crossarmant » Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:33 pm

Flips88 wrote:
the lantern wrote:Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.
Scalia's dissent in Lawrence and also in Romer v. Evans are probably the two most offensive modern legal opinions I've encountered. Hate that guy.
Agreed. I'm not following the Scalia love. I understand he writes with more clarity than the rest of the judges, but his opinions are just insufferable. More often than not it seems that he decides based upon his emotions and then will construct a seemingly plausible reason for why he's right rather than the other way around. Like in DC v. Heller, if you read both the opinion and dissent, you realize that for a person who hammers away at "This is not specifically stated in the Constitution!" he will nitpick and make things where they aren't when his personal opinion wants it that way. I understand that all Justices do so to an extent, but it's just insufferable because he uses such vitriol in his writings and is positively socially regressive.

Want to continue reading?

Register now to search topics and post comments!

Absolutely FREE!


User avatar
reformed calvinist

Bronze
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:58 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by reformed calvinist » Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:39 pm

crossarmant wrote:
Flips88 wrote:
the lantern wrote:Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.
Scalia's dissent in Lawrence and also in Romer v. Evans are probably the two most offensive modern legal opinions I've encountered. Hate that guy.
Agreed. I'm not following the Scalia love. I understand he writes with more clarity than the rest of the judges, but his opinions are just insufferable. More often than not it seems that he decides based upon his emotions and then will construct a seemingly plausible reason for why he's right rather than the other way around. Like in DC v. Heller, if you read both the opinion and dissent, you realize that for a person who hammers away at "This is not specifically stated in the Constitution!" he will nitpick and make things where they aren't when his personal opinion wants it that way. I understand that all Justices do so to an extent, but it's just insufferable because he uses such vitriol in his writings and is positively socially regressive.
Maybe it's just me, but I've always thought that Souter had some of the most lucid prose. The ones I've had to read have always been pretty clear, but they could be the anomaly for all I know.

User avatar
Eugenie Danglars

Gold
Posts: 2353
Joined: Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:04 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Eugenie Danglars » Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:46 pm

Flips88 wrote:
the lantern wrote:Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.
Scalia's dissent in Lawrence and also in Romer v. Evans are probably the two most offensive modern legal opinions I've encountered. Hate that guy.
dunno. Posner's idea that preventing same-sex sexual harassment might give men license to run around in high-heels is pretty bad.

User avatar
TrojanHopeful

Bronze
Posts: 385
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:37 am

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by TrojanHopeful » Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:02 pm

Warren.

User avatar
reformed calvinist

Bronze
Posts: 284
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 11:58 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by reformed calvinist » Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:03 pm

the lantern wrote:Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.
Kennedy's an interesting guy. I find it interesting when people say he has too much power-he is a swing voter but I don't think that's accurate or fair just because he doesn't have as easily identifiable an ideology as other justices. I guess what I mean is-it is descriptively true, but when people make a normative statement on this it doesn't make sense. He has too much power because he doesn't have a wrought-iron ideology? That says more about the Court than it does about him.

Want to continue reading?

Register for access!

Did I mention it was FREE ?


User avatar
TrojanHopeful

Bronze
Posts: 385
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:37 am

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by TrojanHopeful » Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:11 pm

reformed calvinist wrote:
the lantern wrote:Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.
Kennedy's an interesting guy. I find it interesting when people say he has too much power-he is a swing voter but I don't think that's accurate or fair just because he doesn't have as easily identifiable an ideology as other justices. I guess what I mean is-it is descriptively true, but when people make a normative statement on this it doesn't make sense. He has too much power because he doesn't have a wrought-iron ideology? That says more about the Court than it does about him.
Exactly. A court that should be ruling with an unbiased mind is quite predictable in almost all of their decisions depending on their ideology (aka political-party association).

jd20132013

Silver
Posts: 1381
Joined: Sat Oct 09, 2010 4:41 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by jd20132013 » Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:18 pm

Seeing a lot of ideologically based Scalia-hate :roll:

I'm a big fan of Jackson. You can literally read his opinions as recreational prose

User avatar
Flips88

Diamond
Posts: 15246
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 7:42 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Flips88 » Wed Feb 29, 2012 4:53 pm

jd20132013 wrote:Seeing a lot of ideologically based Scalia-hate :roll:

I'm a big fan of Jackson. You can literally read his opinions as recreational prose
Well he typically contorts his ridiculous constitutional framework to meet some end. Like how he wants to limit federal power under the commerce clause, except where something like completely localized marijuana is involved. Then the commerce power gives them the power to regulate it.

User avatar
Drake014

Silver
Posts: 845
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:22 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Drake014 » Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:18 pm

Flips88 wrote:
jd20132013 wrote:Seeing a lot of ideologically based Scalia-hate :roll:

I'm a big fan of Jackson. You can literally read his opinions as recreational prose
Well he typically contorts his ridiculous constitutional framework to meet some end. Like how he wants to limit federal power under the commerce clause, except where something like completely localized marijuana is involved. Then the commerce power gives them the power to regulate it.
Yeah... his opinions are littered with hypocritical bullshit like that.

People think Thomas is an idiot, and sometimes he is, but he's not the hypocrite that Scalia is.

Register now!

Resources to assist law school applicants, students & graduates.

It's still FREE!


User avatar
Lincoln

Silver
Posts: 1208
Joined: Tue Nov 03, 2009 11:27 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Lincoln » Wed Feb 29, 2012 5:43 pm

NYC Law wrote:Louis Brandeis and it isn't even close.
+1

Douglas called him "a militant crusader for social justice." He invented the right to privacy; advocated for government transparency ("sunshine is the best disinfectant"); was a vigorous defender of freedom of speech, and has been driving law students insane for 75 years by inventing the Eire doctrine.

bartleby

Silver
Posts: 1314
Joined: Thu May 29, 2008 3:23 am

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by bartleby » Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:13 am

Dozo. solid ass writer.

dudders

Bronze
Posts: 498
Joined: Sat Mar 13, 2010 4:56 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by dudders » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:12 am

Ruth Bader Ginsburg ftw.

also:
Image

User avatar
Antilles Haven

Bronze
Posts: 480
Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2011 1:34 am

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Antilles Haven » Mon Mar 12, 2012 2:47 pm

eliekedourie wrote:
bartleby wrote:learned hand
I'm hoping that this is just ignorance or an innocent troll and not an attempt to sabotage the OP's future interview.
That's funny, because I was hoping for the exact opposite.

Get unlimited access to all forums and topics

Register now!

I'm pretty sure I told you it's FREE...


User avatar
stillwater

Gold
Posts: 3804
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:59 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by stillwater » Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:32 am

Justice Derpington

User avatar
ndirish2010

Gold
Posts: 2985
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:41 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by ndirish2010 » Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:21 am

Current: Scalia by far.

All-time: I like Harlan (the younger, though the older wasn't bad either) a lot, as well as Frankfurter. Those two and Scalia would probably be top 3.

User avatar
ndirish2010

Gold
Posts: 2985
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:41 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by ndirish2010 » Sat Jan 05, 2013 3:23 am

Flips88 wrote:
the lantern wrote:Kennedy, without a doubt. I fall in love with him every time I read Lawrence v. Texas.
Scalia's dissent in Lawrence and also in Romer v. Evans are probably the two most offensive modern legal opinions I've encountered. Hate that guy.
Scalia's dissent in Lawrence is one of my favorite opinions of all time (though it is not nearly as good as his concurrence in judgment in part/dissent in part in Casey). The majority opinion in Romer v. Evans is one of the most poorly reasoned ever. Scalia was totally right to tear it apart.

Note, this has nothing to do with my personal feelings towards homosexuals. The decisions in Lawrence and Romer are just wrong, regardless of ideology.

User avatar
stillwater

Gold
Posts: 3804
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:59 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by stillwater » Sat Jan 05, 2013 12:36 pm

McReynolds was quite the character.

Communicate now with those who not only know what a legal education is, but can offer you worthy advice and commentary as you complete the three most educational, yet challenging years of your law related post graduate life.

Register now, it's still FREE!


User avatar
Gamecubesupreme

Bronze
Posts: 495
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:54 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Gamecubesupreme » Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:15 pm

ndirish2010 wrote:The majority opinion in Romer v. Evans is one of the most poorly reasoned ever. Scalia was totally right to tear it apart.
I have yet to read a SCOTUS opinion worse than Eldred v. Ashcroft.

Even though I might have an IP bias, that decision was just awful.

User avatar
Flips88

Diamond
Posts: 15246
Joined: Sun Oct 10, 2010 7:42 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by Flips88 » Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:21 pm

ndirish2010 wrote: Note, this has nothing to do with my personal feelings towards homosexuals. The decisions in Lawrence and Romer are just wrong, regardless of ideology.
So was Brown v. Board wrong also? It was overturning policies implemented by a political majority based on animus toward a specific group?

User avatar
stillwater

Gold
Posts: 3804
Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:59 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by stillwater » Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:23 pm

I thought Shady Grove was a complete OUTRAGE

User avatar
ndirish2010

Gold
Posts: 2985
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2009 4:41 pm

Re: Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

Post by ndirish2010 » Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:25 pm

Flips88 wrote:
ndirish2010 wrote: Note, this has nothing to do with my personal feelings towards homosexuals. The decisions in Lawrence and Romer are just wrong, regardless of ideology.
So was Brown v. Board wrong also? It was overturning policies implemented by a political majority based on animus toward a specific group?
No because I think the separate but equal doctrine was an erroneous application of the Equal Protection Clause. I'm not sure how any interpretation of the Due Process Clause can invalidate state laws like the one in Lawrence. It's obviously, as Justice Stewart would say, an "uncommonly silly law." But it's not unconstitutional.

Seriously? What are you waiting for?

Now there's a charge.
Just kidding ... it's still FREE!


Post Reply

Return to “Forum for Law School Students”