Chapter 14

1.     Read online bio's of the U.S. Supreme Court Justices. What do you find interesting about their backgrounds? Pick one of the Justices, read about cases this Justice has written (majority or dissent) and explain whether you agree or disagree with his/her judicial philosophy.

The majority of our Supreme Court Justices have a might fancy pedigree from Harvard, Yale, or Princeton, with the exceptions of Samuel Alito and Elena Kagen but the one Justice I have been fascinated with since her appointment is Sonia Sotomayor. She grew up in a very middle class family who really pushed their children when it came to education. They had to save to buy a set of encyclopedias. I am sure her family did not have the money to send her to Yale or Princeton but she persevered and found a way to complete her education on her own. In her capacity as Supreme Court Justice she has voted in favor of people with disabilities, and for a woman’s right to abortion, both of which I greed with.

2.     Is Judicial Review a power that should be exercised regularly or sparingly?

I think judicial review is a positive thing if it is not taken too far.

Why?  I am leary of decisions that are made on the constitutionality of law that may be more based on the judges own ideology and their feelings rather than fact.

3. Is it the job of the High Court to apply the Constitution in light of the intent of the framers of the Constitution (strict construction) or should they interpret the Constitution in light of changes in society/technology (living Constitution)? Why?  I personally think the high court should adhere to the living constitution. How can we possibly know what the framers would think of the world today. I think the basic principles should be the same just try to see things more in the present.
Blogged on: Edward King, Robert Cook, and Tinisha key