Article II, Section II, Clause II reads.....

[The President] shall nominate, and, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.

So now the process begins. Justice John Paul Stevens has, some might consider, a liberal bent. The President therefore will be replacing a liberal justice with no doubt another liberal justice. It is an interesting thing about justices though, some times they have been known to render opinions much different than one might have expected. We can only hope that the new Justice realizes that her/his job is to look at a case in light of the Constitution and not to legislate.

This process will probably turn into a very bi-partisan battle over whomever the nominee/s might be with the current climate in Washington. Wouldn't it be something if they just looked around and found the best qualified jurist they could find and have the confirmation process be a public review and consideration of their qualifications to be a keeper on the Constitution. Watch carefully how your Senator performs during this process. Let them know who you feel might be a good justice and the President to. Let's hope it doesn't turn out to be the circus it usually is.

The Supreme Court has more long term effect on most things that come before it, than the Congress or the President.One of the best things you and I can do is to read and keep close a copy of the Constitution so that we can follow the cases that can have such a far reaching effect.One of the things that I believe has been lacking in the 3 part government system, is you and I letting the Supreme Court and other jurists, know how we feel about the job they are doing. Our government of checks and balances needs to be balanced by yours and my opinion well expressed. Judges are not "off limits". It's up to you and I to let them, the judges, know how we feel also.

The system can be turned in our favor if we will just get involved. Let's make it a resolution to do the things that we have already talked about in this blog to keep a "check" on the system and now add the judges to it as well.