Out lesbian a contender for Supreme Court nomination

[sundog]

Stanford Law School professor Kathleen Sullivan, widely considered one of America’s top constitutional scholars, is being mentioned as a possible replacement for Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who has announced he will retire at the end of the court’s current term.

Sullivan’s name appears on lists compiled by the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and numerous law blogs. She is the founder and director of the Stanford Constitutional Law Center, and served as dean of Stanford Law School from 1999 to 2004.

http://www.gaypolitics.com/2009/05/01/out-lesbian-a-contender-for-supreme-court-nomination/

trying hard not to let my inner cynic take control here

wouldn't that be great? :)

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[David__77]

2. Well isn't Souter actually (secretly) gay?

I mean, an out gay voice on the court would be good.

[theoldman]

6. He probably is gay.

I doubt that an openly gay person could take his place at this time. Maybe in 10 years.

[sundog]

10. your optimism & joy is greatly appreciated

:patriot:

[Vanje]

35. America isnt ready for a black president, either

I heard that last October.

[glinda]

39. My guess also

[bobburgster]

7. Been the rumor...

since just after he got nominated. Not sure how true it is....ya know us new hampsha ites...just luv da gossip ;)

[saracat]

13. I thought it was Roberts who was supposed to be gay?

And doesn't he have the perfect children he 'ordered" from Ireland or somewhere? I never heard anything about Souter. Also didn't Roberts defend a 'gay rights' case as well? Am I remembering wrong?

[JI7]

23. yes, it is John Roberts , i think the poster got it confused

i remember there was some discussion when his confirmation hearings came up.

yeah, i think he went to South America or Mexico to adopt the kids but they were ordered from Ireland. i think both kids are biologically related also.

[d_b]

27. oh it is

[JI7]

24. no, you are thinking of John Roberts

had he ruled on any gay rights cases yet ? it will be interesting to see how he votes on those.

[LynneSin]

3. She's 53, which is a decent age

I hate to say it but I want YOUNG. I want someone who can give us 30+ years on the bench

Because John Roberts is gong to be around for awhile

[rhett o rick]

16. Yes 53 is a good young age. That's what you mean right? We certainly don't want

age discrimination here on DU now would we?

[LynneSin]

17. Personally I would like the best qualified

but Bush has made it a point to seat alot of young (40s) judges on those benches to ensure his legacy sticks around for awhile. I hate to say it but a qualified judge over 60 isn't doable knowing they could resign in a few years.

[rhett o rick]

18. I was just trying to give you a little sh...tuff because I am in the older group.

And in my old age i have learned that age shouldn't be a huge concern for a Supreme Court Justice, within reason of course. There are so many things that can happen over the years, including the judge changing from liberal to conservative (yikes) or versa visa. I go for the best qualified far left judge. JK

[MineralMan]

4. Oh, yes, please.

I will watch the heads explode.

[rhett o rick]

15. That was going to be my line. Confirmation will be a cinch because the repubs heads will all explod

e

[La Lioness Priyanka]

21. LOL

[OHDEM]

36. I was thinking the same thing!

The best part is that they can't really bring it up. It's not relevant to their qualifications in any way. :popcorn:

[Zuiderelle]

5. Oh man, now that would be nice.

[Maven]

8. I doubt that.

They'll pull the same thing they did with, say, the Secretary of the Navy--float a gay candidate and then wind up choosing the "safer" option.

[CTyankee]

9. I think it is high time a gay person was (openly) on the Court.

Hopefully, Obama will do that, along with a hispanic and another person of color. That would be my dream!

[Control-Z]

28. And, of course,

it goes without saying, you meant women. (of color, hispanic, gay.) Right?

[CTyankee]

34. Yes, I did mean women. It's high time we had 3 more women on the court.

If only to make the right wing go right off the cliff...

Seriously though, we need the perspectives of women from every area of our society to be represented on the court. The idea that we can't get "qualified" people who are gay or of color or hispanic is nonsense.

[Control-Z]

38. Oh good! I'm glad you feel that way.

And yes we do have many qualified women who are gay and AA or Hispanic. Perhaps even Atheist. Talk about making "the right go right off the cliff..." hehe

[frebrd]

11. Yes it would!

:)

[Steven_D]

12. I'd love to see the GOP try to filibuster her

Everytime they display their hate another independent turns into a Democrat.

[rhett o rick]

19. They don't need to filibuster, with the blue dogs, she probably would lose a

up or down vote.

[dmallind]

20. How would house members get to vote on a SCOTUS nominee?

The Blue Dogs are a coalition in the House not the Senate. And besides that are generally socially pretty mainstream Dem. The main difference is that they are very hawkish on budget deficits.

[rhett o rick]

22. Then what do you call Sen Bayh group? Blue Dog 'Like' Senators?

In other words, there are enough conservative Senators like the Nelson brothers, Landreau, Bayh, Leberman, Specter, etc. to defeat a progressive nominee.

[Runcible Spoon]

30. New Democrats, offshoots of the DLC

would be somewhat analogous. And they suck too! :puke:

[rhett o rick]

33. Is that what they are calling themselves? The New Democrats? nm

[saracat]

14. And Sullivan would be terrific!

[sellitman]

25. If we can have a Black President then ........

we can dream, can't we?

[ruggerson]

26. This is only being floated so that gay people will briefly feel included

if this was an administration that was willing to take risks on that front, it would have happened in the cabinet.

[Control-Z]

29. There is nothing

I would like to see more. It would feel like victory.

[Runcible Spoon]

31. Sadly, I agree.

Prolly not going to happen. :evilfrown:

[ropi]

32. it could happen...

I am going to send out good vibes on this idea. yea, sending out good vibes may sound a bit new agey, but what the hell! I'd like to see a LGBT woman of colour, or LGBT woman serve as a Justice.

Let those who oppose it show their true colors.

[rhett o rick]

37. I think the vote will be similar to the vote against helping out foreclosed

home owners. 45 in favor and 51 opposed. No filibuster needed.

[mitchtv]

40. Hahahahahahahahahahah

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaahahahahahahahahahaha
tis is May, not April Fools day:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :spray: :spray: :spray: :silly: :crazy: :crazy:

[ruggerson]

41. pretty much my reaction as well