OUTPOST

With the news that Associate Justice of the Supreme Court John Paul Stevens leader of liberal bloc will be retiring this summer Washington has been a wash with speculation over who his replacement might be. A variety of news outlets including the LA times have put Washington-based federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland, 57; Solicitor General Elena Kagan, 49; and Chicago federal appeals court Judge Diane Wood, 59 as the front runners.

This decision will not be taken lightly and will require a high level of political skill. Steven’s retirement poses a number of challenges to Obama the most obvious of which is its timing as mid-term elections will be in full swing during the confirmation.

Wood is seen as the most controversial having clerked for Harry Blackmun who authored the Supreme Court’s opinion in Roe v. Wade. Garland is seen as the least contentious option. Abortion, same sex marriage and gun control will be major issues which Obama’s nominee will be quizzed on.

Although Obama has already been through all of this with Sonia Sotomayor who became the first Hispanic Justice the political climate has vastly changed with the potential of a Republican filibuster. This nomination takes on even greater significance with the passage of Healthcare reform as Republican’s threaten the Constitutionality of the law.

Here at Outpost we are very interested in your opinion. Former Constitutional Law lecturer Barack Obama has an opportunity to make a statement with his nomination however, considering the current political landscape in Washington the ‘safe option’ must seem very tempting at this time.

What do you think Obama will/should do? Let us know.