I will protect your pensions. Nothing about your pension is going to change when I am governor. - Chris Christie, "An Open Letter to the Teachers of NJ" October, 2009

Sunday, June 30, 2013

Another Reason The SCOTUS Makes No Sense To Me

Stepping way out of my wheelhouse here, but why not...

Do I have a lawyer who reads this blog who can explain this to me?

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So Pete Williams is saying the SCOTUS doesn't want to take on the "question" of marriage equity. And it is refusing to hear cases where it would have to render a decision on the constitutionality of denying gays and lesbians the right to marry. OK...

But since 1803 and Marbury v. Madison, the SCOTUS has accrued to itself the power - a power not enumerated in the Constitution - to review acts of Congress to find if they are compatible with the Constitution.

How can the Supreme Court possibly justify having the power to void laws if they are unconstitutional, yet refuse to use that power whenever it sees fit?  

Marbury v Madison presupposes that the constitutionality of a law can be determined. The SCOTUS has said determining that constitutionality is their job, and no one else's. Well, aren't they derelict in their duties when they refuse to make a determination, using powers that they have granted themselves? Don't they have a responsibility to the America people to explain why they believe a law is or isn't constitutional when challenged in court?

My legal views were pretty much shaped by Marvel Comics. As Peter Parker always said: "With great power comes great responsibility." Why is the SCOTUS allowed to shirk that responsibility - a responsibility they gave to themselves - whenever they feel like it?

Yeah, I should probably stick to education policy...

I woulda gone to law school if the texts had more pictures...

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Mosey on down to my blog for an explanation *GRIN!* The court only struck down Article 3 of DOMA, not Article 2.