5.29.2005
Analysis: Path Cleared for Rehnquist's Retirement (USATODAY.com)
Posted 5/28/2005 7:43 PM Updated 5/28/2005 7:56 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist may feel freer to step down with the Senate judicial standoff muted and the Supreme Court weeks away from the end of its term.
A compromise forged by centrist senators on Monday averted a showdown over President Bush's judge nominees and the Senate's filibuster rules.
While the deal won't stop Democratic senators from trying to block the next Supreme Court nominee, and was tested with Bush's choice for U.N. ambassador, it temporarily eased tensions over judicial confirmations.
"There's just no better time for Rehnquist to leave than now, from a political standpoint," said John McGinnis, a law professor at Northwestern University who worked in the administration of Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush.
Rehnquist, 80, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last fall, but he has released few details about his illness and no clues about his future plans.
A departure makes sense now, McGinnis said, because Republicans risk losing Senate seats in elections next year. In addition, he said, Bush's victory over Democrat John Kerry last fall eased friction over the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that tipped the 2000 election to Bush.
Rehnquist, a Republican, sided with Bush in the 2000 case. If he steps down, he can expect the White House to choose a conservative successor.
"Rehnquist probably feels it's about as good of a time to retire as any," said Joel Grossman, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University. Rehnquist and other justices were likely following with interest developments in the Senate debate over judicial confirmations, he said.
On Monday, Justice John Paul Stevens used an Oklahoma elections case to raise concerns about party politics. Stevens, at 85 the oldest justice, noted "bitter partisanship that has already poisoned some of those bodies that once provided inspiring examples of courteous adversary debate and deliberation." It was an apparent reference to the Senate.
(More ... USATODAY.com - Analysis: Path cleared for Rehnquist's retirement) ¶ 21:49
WASHINGTON (AP) — Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist may feel freer to step down with the Senate judicial standoff muted and the Supreme Court weeks away from the end of its term.
A compromise forged by centrist senators on Monday averted a showdown over President Bush's judge nominees and the Senate's filibuster rules.
While the deal won't stop Democratic senators from trying to block the next Supreme Court nominee, and was tested with Bush's choice for U.N. ambassador, it temporarily eased tensions over judicial confirmations.
"There's just no better time for Rehnquist to leave than now, from a political standpoint," said John McGinnis, a law professor at Northwestern University who worked in the administration of Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush.
Rehnquist, 80, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last fall, but he has released few details about his illness and no clues about his future plans.
A departure makes sense now, McGinnis said, because Republicans risk losing Senate seats in elections next year. In addition, he said, Bush's victory over Democrat John Kerry last fall eased friction over the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that tipped the 2000 election to Bush.
Rehnquist, a Republican, sided with Bush in the 2000 case. If he steps down, he can expect the White House to choose a conservative successor.
"Rehnquist probably feels it's about as good of a time to retire as any," said Joel Grossman, a political science professor at Johns Hopkins University. Rehnquist and other justices were likely following with interest developments in the Senate debate over judicial confirmations, he said.
On Monday, Justice John Paul Stevens used an Oklahoma elections case to raise concerns about party politics. Stevens, at 85 the oldest justice, noted "bitter partisanship that has already poisoned some of those bodies that once provided inspiring examples of courteous adversary debate and deliberation." It was an apparent reference to the Senate.
(More ... USATODAY.com - Analysis: Path cleared for Rehnquist's retirement) ¶ 21:49
