Everybody wants a change...in the Supreme Court

Naturally, people tend to search for the easiest solution to a problem. When it comes to voting, people’s lazy nature causes them to use heuristics, a method that uses readily accessible information to help solve a problem, in this case – who to vote for. Heuristics cause people to vote for the candidate whose campaign slogan fits best with their desires rather than vote based on specific issues. A common heuristic used in the upcoming election is the strong need for change.

The word change is used extremely often in this upcoming election, but it is usually used with regards to the economy and the war in Iraq. Change is rarely used in reference to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court justices’ lifetime terms are meant to keep them separate from the political world in which they work; they are meant to interpret the constitution without political bias. Nevertheless, a justice’s political leaning tends to match with the president who nominated him or her. Justice Kennedy, the Court’s current swing voter, leans a little more towards the right, which causes the Robert’s Court to rule many 5-4 (conservative) decisions. The Court may become even more conservative as the next three openings on the court are predicted to come from the liberal side of the bench.

The Supreme Court is often overlooked during election times because of voters’ inability to directly choose new justices. Also, the complex, hard to understand nature of the Court turns voters off. Even so, the Supreme Court’s hold on the constitution gives it incomparable power that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Another Republican in office, even the moderate McCain, will probably elect replacement justices with conservative leanings.
The Supreme Court has the power to outlaw abortion, gay marriage and many other rights that liberals are fighting for. Change is the motif in every campaign in the upcoming election, but change cannot be implemented without the cooperation of the Supreme Court.