Supreme Court: August 2009 Archives

In O'Connor's World, Less Testosterone on the Court

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Since leaving the Supreme Court in 2006, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has devoted herself to increasing public understanding of the judiciary in general and the Supreme Court in particular.

To that end, she has launched a Web site that includes two interactive games. In one of them, "Supreme Decision," the player is a clerk to the fictional Justice Irene Waters, helping her decide her position on a First Amendment case.

The animated game includes a mock oral argument before a Supreme Court that appears to be composed of five women and four men.

That's nearly twice as many female justices as there have been in the court's entire history. O'Connor was the first, in 1981. Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined the court in 1993. Justice Sonia Sotomayor just recently become the third.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has filed a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn two of its decisions on campaign finance law.

The Kentucky Republican filed his brief in a pending -- and closely watched -- case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

The case originated as a challenge to federal restrictions on the video-on-demand distribution, during the 2008 presidential primary season, of a 90-minute documentary that was very critical of Hillary Rodham Clinton. The court on June 29 took the unusal step of ordering a rehearing of the case in September, specifically on two questions.

Martinez Didn't Mention Sotomayor

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Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez did not mention Republican criticism of confirmed Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor during a brief press conference in Orlando.

"There's no impending reason, it's only my desire to move on and to get on with the rest of my life," Martinez said, referring to his surprise announcement Friday that he will resign his Senate seat probably before the end of August.

Did Sotomayor Attacks Speed Martinez' Exit?

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Florida Republican Sen. Mel Martinez surprised the Senate Friday, announcing he is going to resign his seat in the coming weeks.

Martinez had announced last December he would not run for re-election in next year's midterm elections, but he was expected to serve out the rest of his term. He is expected to step down before the end of August.

His decision comes on the heels of weeks of criticisms by many Senate Republicans at Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Supreme Court nominee. In a floor speech on Wednesday, Martinez -- one of just nine Republicans to vote for Sotomayor -- lashed out at the GOP attacks, particularly an accusation that had been leveled by Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions.

GOP Senator Says Sotomayor's Speeches "Racist"

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Sen, James Inhofe, R-Okla., used the word "racist" to describe Sonia Sotomayor's speeches in which she suggested a wise woman or wise Latina might make a better decision than a white male judge.

"To me, I consider that racist," Inhofe said tonight during Senate floor debate on Sotomayor's nomination.

Senate Republicans have shied away from that term when critiquing Sotomayor's speeches. She testified at her Senate Judiciary confirmation hearing last month that she believed she had chosen her words poorly during a series of speeches intended to inspire student audiences.

McCain Is a No on Sotomayor

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The GOP's 2008 presidential nominee, John McCain, announced Monday that he will vote against Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court.

McCain, who wanted to be the one doing the nominating, said he could not support "activist judges" in outlining his opposition in a Senate floor speech.

"I cannot support activist judges that seek to legislate from the bench," McCain said. "I have not supported such nominees in the past, and I cannot support such a nominee to the highest court in the land."