If Judges Aren’t Politicians, What Are They?
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Jan. 8 (Bloomberg) -- Journalists and academics have a lotto say about what U.S. judges do and why they do it. Manyveteran court-watchers believe that the Supreme Court now is,and has long been, almost equally divided between“conservatives” and “liberals.”
Skeptical journalists treat judges as little more thanpoliticians in black robes. Others insist that presidents areroutinely disappointed by their appointees and that you justcan’t predict how judges will vote. For their part, judicialnominees typically declare they will simply follow the law.Chief Justice John Roberts proclaimed that judges are neutralumpires, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor said that “in every case Ihave decided, I have done what the law requires.”