The appointment of a new Supreme Court justice is a significant event in the United States, as the nominee undergoes Senate confirmation and is granted a lifetime appointment. As Justice Stephen Breyer is expected to retire, President Joe Biden has the opportunity to appoint a highly qualified candidate who will help shape the future of the nation’s highest court. Some likely nominees include Merrick Garland, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Leondra Kruger, and Laurence Tribe. Other potential nominees are Brinkley Carlsbad, Heather Gerken, Pamela Karlan, Lucy H. Koh, Cass Sunstein, and Sally Yates. Whoever is chosen must be highly qualified and have a judicial philosophy that aligns with the president’s vision for the country’s future.
Potential Nominees for the Next Supreme Court Justice
The appointment of a new Supreme Court justice is a matter of immense significance for the United States. The President’s nominee must receive Senate confirmation and is granted a lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court. The Supreme Court is the final arbiter of legal disputes in the country and is responsible for interpreting the Constitution, making it a highly coveted and influential position.
The current Supreme Court is split evenly between liberal and conservative justices, and with Justice Stephen Breyer’s expected retirement, President Joe Biden has the opportunity to appoint a highly qualified individual who can help shape the court’s future for decades to come. There are many outstanding legal minds in the United States, but here are ten potential nominees who could be considered for this vital position:
1. Merrick Garland
Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 1997, Merrick Garland was nominated by President Barack Obama to the Supreme Court in 2016. However, his nomination was blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate, and the seat eventually went to Justice Neil Gorsuch. Judge Garland has been a highly respected member of the legal community for decades, and his judicial philosophy tends to favour judicial restraint and deference to government agencies.
2. Ketanji Brown Jackson
Ketanji Brown Jackson is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and a former clerk for Justice Stephen Breyer. She has been reported to be one of President Biden’s top choices for the Supreme Court, and her record on the Court suggests that she is a progressive voice on issues like voting rights and criminal justice reform.
3. Leondra Kruger
Leondra Kruger is a justice on the California Supreme Court who was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown in 2005. Before becoming a judge, Kruger served in the U.S. Department of Justice, where she argued several cases before the Supreme Court. She is known for her impressive legal acumen and is widely respected in the legal community.
4. Heather Gerken
Heather Gerken is the dean of Yale Law School and a prominent legal scholar. Her work has focused on election law, federalism, and civil rights, and she has been a vocal advocate for voting rights in particular. Gerken has argued that voting rights are critical to a functioning democracy and has called for reforms that would expand access to the ballot.
5. Brinkley Carlsbad
Brinkley Carlsbad is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and has served on the bench since 2003. She has a reputation for being a centrist and has supported judicial review of government decisions while also advocating for deference to economic regulations.
6. Laurence Tribe
Laurence Tribe is a highly regarded legal scholar and professor at Harvard Law School. He has argued dozens of cases before the Supreme Court and is considered an expert in constitutional law. Tribe has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s policies and has advocated for progressive reforms that would expand voting rights and address climate change.
7. Pamela Karlan
Pamela Karlan is a professor of law at Stanford Law School and a former Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department. She has been a vocal critic of President Trump and has advocated for progressive causes like voting rights and same-sex marriage. Karlan is known for her impassioned arguments and her engaging teaching style.
8. Lucy H. Koh
Lucy H. Koh is a judge on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and has been on the bench since 2010. Before becoming a judge, Koh was a prosecutor and a litigator in private practice. She is known for her thorough and thoughtful approach to cases and her commitment to upholding the rule of law.
9. Cass Sunstein
Cass Sunstein is a professor at Harvard Law School and a former administrator at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under President Obama. His work has focused on administrative law and regulation, and he has advocated for an approach to governance that balances individual liberty and the public interest. Sunstein is a prolific writer and has authored several influential books on legal and political theory.
10. Sally Yates
Sally Yates is a former Deputy Attorney General under President Obama and briefly served as Acting Attorney General under President Trump. She was fired by the Trump administration after she refused to defend his travel ban executive order. Yates is known for her commitment to the rule of law and her willingness to stand up for what she believes is right.
Conclusion
There are many highly qualified individuals who could serve as an excellent Supreme Court justice, and these ten potential nominees are just a few of the many worthy candidates. It is essential that the president and the Senate give careful consideration to each nominee’s qualifications and judicial philosophy to ensure that the Supreme Court continues to serve as an impartial and fair arbiter of the law for generations to come.