would justice Alito make the court more liberal and what woud be the effect of his appointment on abortion?
105353
The likelihood is that Alito will be more conservative than retiring justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and those who oppose abortion believe that overturning or at least impeding the 1973 historic Roe v. Wade decision is a reality.
752489
Yes, Nixon appointed the judges who would later make abortion legal. It seems that every judge is appointed by republicans who are usually conservative yet, the judges changed over the years. They aren't going to have the same beliefs they once had when they took office. They changed, it's a common fact. They tend to become more progressive.
35716
The more conservatives on the Supreme Court will 'tilt' the decisions they make towards a concervative, or 'right' slant.
763369
Nothing is inevitable. You never know which side a Justice will come down on. I would like to believe they weigh the arguments and then place them in a context of what is allowed by the Constitution. Activist judges ruling by judicial fiat from the bench are not good for anyone, no matter which side of the political spectrum they fall on.
826402
The question in most states is whether state supreme courts will (as Massachusetts, Vermont, New Jersey  and other states have) interpret the Due Process or Equal Protection Clauses of their state constitutions as requiring gay marriage or civil unions.  If it's in the Constitution, then the supreme court has no room for interpretation (Now, this may change if/when the Federal government/courts get involved).\n\nAs to your policy question, most people will make a religious or moral answer.  Others argue that raising kids in a gay relationship hurts the kids, which hurts society.  \nReally, to paraphrase a bunch of comedians, I don't know what harm gay marriage will do to heterosexual marriage that straight people haven't already done to it!
720965
Supreme Court justices have lifetime appointments so that they  can be free from politics in making their decisions. If they had to be reappointed every few years, they might be influenced by a desire to please the people with the power to approve the reappointment instead of making their decisions on a case solely on their honest interpretation of the Constitution. It is all part of the checks & balances system set up by our Founding Fathers.
599121
Depends what kind of liberal you mean (classical, American, etc.)\n\nAny way, it's such a huge answer I would just look it up on wikipedia.\n\nHere are some positions Americans liberals *may* take:\n\n    * A social "safety net" to minimize the suffering due to poverty, including welfare, medicare, unemployment benefits, health insurance, and retirement programs.\n    * Increased government role and funding for public education, public transportation, and alternative energy development.\n    * Increased regulation of business practices through OSHA, child labor laws, anti-trust laws, and minimum wage laws.\n    * Strong, government-protected labor unions\n    * Civil rights, including laws against discrimination based on gender, race, age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.\n    * Affirmative action and transitional multi-lingual educational programs for children whose first language is not English.\n    * Broad voting rights\n    * Public assistance for undocumented aliens\n    * A spirit of international community and service to all people\n    * A woman's right to an abortion in private and without interference\n    * The right of the terminally ill to end their life\n    * Laws to protect the environment\n    * The elimination of the death penalty\n    * Animal rights\n    * Gun control\n    * A progressive tax system\n    * Marijuana legalization\n    * Advocacy of stem cell research and support of scientific study\n    * Adherence to the principle of separation of church and state\n\n\n\nShould add that Republicans over the last few decades have successfully turned the word "liberal" into a bad wor. So in politics what is and what is perceived to be "liberal" is not so clear.
119870
Abortion should never be legal.  I hope the Supreme Court, with its new memebers will put an end to the partial-birth procedure.  From there Id like to see Roe itself overturned.
165805
Supreme Court justices are appointed to the high court for their personal views. Are they pro-life or not? Are they strict constructionalists? Where do they stand on the separation between church and state, between the federal gov't and the states.\n\nWhy do you think Supreme Court appointments were a major issue during the last presidential election?  Because a justice's personal views MATTER -- and this isn't something that became an issue in the last 8 years.  It's always been an issue since Marberry v. Madison.
813956
Yes, the Senate.  The constitutional says the executive appoints with the "advice and consent" of the senate.  In the good 'ol days the Senate was not popularly elected but was appointed by the state legislatures (2 from each state--sort of like the House of Lords in the English system).  In any event the idea was to better insulate the judiciary from the will of the "masses" because the Founding Fathers knew that the courts would be called upon to protect the interests of minority groups and to make unpopular decisions.  They were smart guys.
157429
ALL supreme court nominees are controversial, because a president nominates based on their political beliefs, then the nomination goes in front of a two-party legislature.  One party will be opposed and one will be for, unless the nominee sits squarely in the middle.  Mr. Alito leaned right, so the left wing was unhappy that he was nominated.
85645
The short answer is that John Roberts is the new Chief Justice of the United States.\n\nThe long answer?  John Roberts was originally nominated to replace retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.  When Rehnquist died in office, the President changed Roberts' nomination papers to fill Rehnquist's seat instead.  The President then nominated Harriet Miers (who would withdraw) and Samuel Alito to the remaining seat.
430519
Winston Churchill was an unwanted pregnacy\nAbortion kills an innocent\nThere are people craving to adopt children\nThe tax base and the social security base has been cut to shreads since abortion was made legal\nIt should have never become law, because the Supreme Court over stepped it's authority by usurping the legislative process.
396123
very little because of roe v wade has made it more of a federal matter. every state law that is passed will automatically be filed against in federal court. that is part of the reason why pro life movement wants roe over turned. so that the states and the people of the states can decide the issue.
127388
Judge Alito is an originalist so he believes his job is to inturpret the constitution, not legislate. Bush appointed him because of that, not because he's conservative. But it so happens that the constitution is, on the most part, a conservative document. I believe Alito is the perfect choice. He will make decisions based on the laws that congress passes. If we disagree with those laws, we need to elect congressmen to change them. We shouldn't expect the judicial branch to do the job of the legislative branch.
144684
John Roberts is the Chief Justice, Samuel Alito is the new judge. Both appointed by G.W. Bush.
120205
YOU BET I DO!!!!! The reason for this ammendment is to prevent liberal activist judges(On all levels) from legislating from the bench!!!  The Howard Dean left has lost all elections & the only avenues they have left are the biased liberal media & the courts!