I agree that judicial appointments have to be the strangest power that the president holds. Honestly, that part of the governmental system has never made complete sense to me. I have always thought that a Supreme Court Justice should be nominated and judged by other people within the profession. It does not make sense for the people to aid in the process since most people are uneducated about the law. Additionally, judicial appointment hearings never seem to be about what really matters in my opinion: the professionalism of the appointee and their notable achievements. As you mentioned, a large portion of Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson’s hearing has been focused on controversial cases she judged or her personal values. Although these factors contribute to who she is as a person, as a judge, she is required to impartially interpret and apply the law, regardless of what she believes.
Another topic that I would like to discuss in response to your compelling Civic Issues post is the lack of diversity present in the history of Supreme Court justices. Since the establishment of the Supreme Court in 1789, there have been 114 Supreme Court justices. Of those 114 justices, only six have belonged to a minority group. I believe that this is a significant issue that needs to be discussed and addressed because this statistic means that the Supreme Court does not adequately represent the American people. Additionally, this statistic means that old, white men continue to hold the greatest powers in our government. The ingredient to success in any field is a diverse group of people and attitudes. This diversity will ensure that all perspectives are taken into consideration, and will allow for greater debate. The Supreme Court especially, should operate in the same way. Having successful justices from diverse backgrounds will strengthen our country, not weaken it.
Source https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/25/politics/supreme-court-justice-minorities-history-trnd/index.html
I agree that judicial appointments have to be the strangest power that the president holds. Honestly, that part of the governmental system has never made complete sense to me. I have always thought that a Supreme Court Justice should be nominated and judged by other people within the profession. It does not make sense for the people to aid in the process since most people are uneducated about the law. Additionally, judicial appointment hearings never seem to be about what really matters in my opinion: the professionalism of the appointee and their notable achievements. As you mentioned, a large portion of Judge Kentaji Brown Jackson’s hearing has been focused on controversial cases she judged or her personal values. Although these factors contribute to who she is as a person, as a judge, she is required to impartially interpret and apply the law, regardless of what she believes.
Another topic that I would like to discuss in response to your compelling Civic Issues post is the lack of diversity present in the history of Supreme Court justices. Since the establishment of the Supreme Court in 1789, there have been 114 Supreme Court justices. Of those 114 justices, only six have belonged to a minority group. I believe that this is a significant issue that needs to be discussed and addressed because this statistic means that the Supreme Court does not adequately represent the American people. Additionally, this statistic means that old, white men continue to hold the greatest powers in our government. The ingredient to success in any field is a diverse group of people and attitudes. This diversity will ensure that all perspectives are taken into consideration, and will allow for greater debate. The Supreme Court especially, should operate in the same way. Having successful justices from diverse backgrounds will strengthen our country, not weaken it.
Source
https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/25/politics/supreme-court-justice-minorities-history-trnd/index.html