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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Roberts Court Disappoints O'Connor

Moderate justice sees legacy 'dismantled' by conservative turn

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(Newser) – Sandra Day O’Connor is none too pleased with the conservative turn the Supreme Court has taken since she retired. Asked at a conference how she felt about the court overturning or undermining rulings she’d helped make on issues like abortion rights, campaign finance and race, she replied, “What would you feel? If you think you’ve been helpful, and then it’s dismantled, you think, ‘Oh, dear.’ But life goes on. It’s not always positive.”

O’Connor’s comments came during a panel discussion Saturday. She also said diversity was important for the court, and that she was happy to see a woman and Latina appointed in Sonia Sotomayor, “It’s not enough,” she added. “I don’t think we should have nine clones up there.” O'Connor, a moderate justice appointed by Ronald Reagan, was replaced by the more conservative Samuel Alito.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor speaks during a meeting of the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform at the West Virginia University College of Law, Sept. 21, 2009.
Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor speaks during a meeting of the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform at the West Virginia University College of Law, Sept. 21, 2009.   (AP Photo/David Smith)
In a Sept. 19, 2007 file photo retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor addresses a meeting of Pennsylvania judges and lawyers in Harrisburg, Pa.
In a Sept. 19, 2007 file photo retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor addresses a meeting of Pennsylvania judges and lawyers in Harrisburg, Pa.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, FILE)
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18 comments
VIEWING:
 
Mia
Oct 5, 09 2:25 PM CDT
I wish more would retired before Obama leaves office. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+5
IN RESPONSE:
DontLikeYou
Oct 5, 09 3:48 PM CDT
THe court is just fine how it is. Liberals do not deserve to be in the majority on the court since liberals are a minority of the American people.
Vote up! Vote down!
-11
IN RESPONSE:
Yourself
Oct 5, 09 4:41 PM CDT
@dontlikeyou - except that liberals have been voted in en-force! seems to me when 60 seats are seated by "liberals" then the majority of the people must be somewhat more "liberal" or at a minimum they're progressive leaning. you're effort at a point is therefor WRONG, as usual.
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+5
IN RESPONSE:
rajanKazhmin
Oct 5, 09 5:43 PM CDT
@dontlikeyou: just because conservatives are loud, does not mean there are more of them.
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
Snarfeh
Oct 6, 09 4:28 PM CDT
Out liberals may be a minority, dontlikeyourlife, but closeted liberals are a majority. Otherwise, there would not be so many republican sex scandals.
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