Thursday, February 02, 2006

New Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito split with the court's conservatives Wednesday night, refusing to let Missouri execute a death-row inmate contesting lethal injection. Alito, handling his first case, sided with inmate Michael Taylor, who had won a stay from an appeals court earlier in the evening. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas supported lifting the stay, but Alito joined the remaining five members in turning down Missouri's last-minute request to allow a midnight execution.

Is Alito the new David Souter?

Okay, that is wishful thinking. But at least the guy surprised America and showed that he can think for himself -on one issue. Unfortunately, Scalia and Thomas have probably locked him in a dungeon until he repents and swears to play on "the team."

6 Comments:

It would be a nice surprise if he turned into an Independent thinker. But this was likely an exception to the rule.

Bart
posted by  Anonymous, at 2/02/2006 12:57 PM  

The catholic church is against the death penalty; a devout catholic, alito would have to go against the killer conservatives (as far as he lets his religion influence his rulings which of course he's not supposed to do). It would be great if he turned out to be another Souter--just what the neocons deserve!
Gary (NJ)
posted by  Anonymous, at 2/02/2006 1:13 PM  

I was raised Catholic. Catholics are definitely not fundamentalist in their mentality. In fact, Catholic churches don't even put Bibles in the pews! Maybe Alito will turn out to be a level-headed, thoughtful jurist! That would be so cool.
posted by  Anonymous, at 2/02/2006 1:23 PM  

Gary, as a catholic, lets see what he does with abortion issues and a woman's right to choose. That will be the test of his "independent" thinking. I'm holding my breath. I don't expect anything from him on equality issues. If anyone, Souter would be the only one giving any support to a smidgeon of equality laws.

Chris, I was once catholic but renounced it formally many years ago. I wouldn't say catholics on the whole are liberal either, but some are definitely fundamentalist. I have several in my extended family who believe that gays will go to hell. So they are off my list and I've also severed ties with them. I ignore them at functions which pisses them off immensely. There is a substantial number of catholics who adhere to orthodox teaching who do RATzi's bidding and who support their equally homophobic clergy and hierarchy.

Robert, NYC.
posted by  Anonymous, at 2/02/2006 1:50 PM  

Robert: point well-taken. I am sorry to hear about the attitudes of some in your family. That's a shame. I'm so glad you rose above it.
posted by  Anonymous, at 2/02/2006 1:54 PM  

I don't know that I would call ignoring your relatives at family functions just to annoy them, "rising above it". It sounds like he's more "wallowing in it" with them.
To "rise above it" would be to treat them with respect and kindness even though they don't give you the same.
I mean, I have relatives who think I'm going to hell as well... but I don't give a shit, cause I know that I'm not.
posted by  Anonymous, at 2/03/2006 5:12 AM  

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