Obama Influence Will Be Felt in Lower Courts

Aging Stevens, Ginsburg show no sign of retiring, defying conventional wisdom

(NEWSER) - One of the boons for the next president was thought to be the chance to appoint a justice or two to the Supreme Court. But though John Paul Stevens is 88 and Ruth Bader Ginsburg 75, neither has indicated an intention to retire. Ginsberg has twice demurred, saying Stevens, who is “going strong at age 88,” is a role model, writes Jan Crawford Greenburg for ABC. More»

Republican upset over president's Supreme Court comments

(NEWSER) - Sen. Charles Grassley is in hot water today after a tweet Saturday in which the Iowa Republican called President Obama stupid. "Constituents askd why i am not outraged at PresO attack on supreme court independence. Bcause Am ppl r not stupid as this x prof of con law," Grassley tweeted . CNN notes that Grassley has long been quite vocal in his criticism of Obama, and this time around he was apparently upset at Obama's comments on the possibility of the "unelected" Supreme Court overturning ObamaCare. Obama's senior campaign strategist David Axelrod was quick to respond. More»

Peggy Noonan says Republicans who once trusted him no longer do so

(NEWSER) - Peggy Noonan thinks a lot of Republicans who once liked President Obama personally, if not politically, are having serious second thoughts. "What is happening is that the president is coming across more and more as a trimmer, as an operator who's not operating in good faith," she writes in the Wall Street Journal . "This is hardening positions and leading to increased political bitterness," and she thinks Obama himself is to blame. More»

Fear of backlash keeps Dems timid on 2nd amendment

(NEWSER) - Gun-rights advocates who feared that the Obama presidency would mean the end of the Second Amendment have instead found the political climate surprisingly friendly, the Washington Independent reports. The Supreme Court and state legislatures alike have awarded victories to pro-gun forces, and federal lawmakers are wary of rocking the boat. Even though Democrats hold majorities, members of Congress remember the powerful right-wing backlash President Clinton's gun control efforts fueled. More»

Expect a fierce battle for liberal justice's replacement

(NEWSER) - What will John Paul Stevens’ retirement mean for the Supreme Court? Here are three early thoughts on what comes next:

• Expect the tea partiers to get extremely riled up over whoever President Obama nominates, writes Chris Good of the Atlantic . They have a “very strict (one could almost say fundamentalist)” take on the Constitution, and they’re itching for a post-health care fight.