Supreme Court OKs Lawsuits Over 'Light' Cigarettes

Former supporter cites racism, politics, judicial activism

(NEWSER) - Former Supreme Court justice John Paul Stevens is making clear for the first time why he switched course on the death penalty in 2008, calling it unconstitutional, the New York Times reports. Writing in the New York Review of Books, Stevens, who supported capital punishment in 1976, reveals his revised belief that racism, politics, and unfairness plague the system. More»

(AP) - Bowtie-wearing lawyers and spectators dotted the Supreme Court chamber on the last day Justice John Paul Stevens sat on the bench, a nod to the retiring justice and his signature neckwear. The 90-year-old Stevens told colleagues in a letter he read from the bench that if he had "overstayed" his welcome, it was because being a justice is "such a unique and wonderful job." More»

Prez manages to play it safe and progressive at the same time

(NEWSER) - President Obama's pick of Elena Kagan for the Supreme Court says more about the president than his nominee, writes Glenn Thrush. The president spoke boldly about the need to stand up to big business in his pre-selection talk while privately seeking a safe pick who could be confirmed without much of a fight, Thrush writes at Politico , dubbing Obama's style "the audacity of caution." More»

She'll have critics on both right and left, but will skirt major battles

(NEWSER) - The Senate confirmation hearings for Elena Kagan will likely include some minor dust-ups but no major battles, observers say. Liberals are worried she's more conservative than Stevens and will thus push the court to the right, but are unlikely to seriously oppose her. Conservatives respect her overall, though her move at Harvard to kick military recruiters off campus because of the ban on gays will probably catch her some flak from the right, Politico reports. More»

President Obama plans to nominate solicitor general for high court seat

(NEWSER) - President Obama plans to nominate Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court to replace John Paul Stevens tomorrow, MSNBC reports and numerous other sources comfirm. Should Kagan, 50, be confirmed, the high court would have three female justices for the first time. Her nomination marks the first time in 38 years that a Supreme Court nominee was not a sitting judge, notes the Washington Post . More»