Sonia Sotomayor for USSC?

[crazy canuck]

In Canada, selection of judges for the top court goes by a sort of quota for regions, I understand - based I suppose on the notion that having these different regional backgrounds provides some valuable different insights. Of course, provincial laws do differ, significantly so in the case of Quebec, which I suppose makes regional difference balancing a better idea than racial or gender based balancing (though I suspect some of that happens too).

I once looked at this for some reason I cant now remember.  The representation from some regions is constitutionally mandated - eg Quebec.  For other regions the number is by tradition.   The logic is that the diversity is then adequately reflected on the Court.   This was more of a concern back when the big constitutional battles were over division of power type issues.  I dont really see the logic now outside of Quebec which is, I agree, a special case.

[Barrister]

In Canada, selection of judges for the top court goes by a sort of quota for regions, I understand - based I suppose on the notion that having these different regional backgrounds provides some valuable different insights. Of course, provincial laws do differ, significantly so in the case of Quebec, which I suppose makes regional difference balancing a better idea than racial or gender based balancing (though I suspect some of that happens too).

I once looked at this for some reason I cant now remember.  The representation from some regions is constitutionally mandated - eg Quebec.  For other regions the number is by tradition.   The logic is that the diversity is then adequately reflected on the Court.   This was more of a concern back when the big constitutional battles were over division of power type issues.  I dont really see the logic now outside of Quebec which is, I agree, a special case.

The breakdown is (IIRC):

3 Quebec
3 Ontario
2 West
1 Maritimes

note that one entire region of the country gets left out entirely...

[jimmy olsen]

I once looked at this for some reason I cant now remember.  The representation from some regions is constitutionally mandated - eg Quebec.  For other regions the number is by tradition.   The logic is that the diversity is then adequately reflected on the Court.   This was more of a concern back when the big constitutional battles were over division of power type issues.  I dont really see the logic now outside of Quebec which is, I agree, a special case.

The breakdown is (IIRC):

3 Quebec
3 Ontario
2 West
1 Maritimes

note that one entire region of the country gets left out entirely...

And it's the region of the country where no one lives, imagine that. 

[Savonarola]

And it's the region of the country where no one lives, imagine that. 

The Canadian people are missing out on the wisdom of the Eskimos.   

[Barrister]

note that one entire region of the country gets left out entirely...

And it's the region of the country where no one lives, imagine that. 

[crazy canuck]

Imagine if we had to appoint a member of the Sumpreme Court from a population of a few thousand.  Requiring someone to come from the Maritimes is bad enough.

[alfred russel]

Imagine if we had to appoint a member of the Sumpreme Court from a population of a few thousand.  Requiring someone to come from the Maritimes is bad enough.

I think that is how we ended up with Clarence Thomas. 

[jimmy olsen]

Imagine if we had to appoint a member of the Sumpreme Court from a population of a few thousand.  Requiring someone to come from the Maritimes is bad enough.

I'm pretty sure it's BB's subtle way to put himself forward as a candidate.

[Scipio]

Katzmann is a much better option, IMHO.

Another Moynihan guy, but I think the President was looking for someone sans penis.

My sole interest is in having my undergrad con law professor on the Supreme Court.  All else pales in comparison.

[crazy canuck]

Imagine if we had to appoint a member of the Sumpreme Court from a population of a few thousand.  Requiring someone to come from the Maritimes is bad enough.

Today is a particularly bad spelling day for me.  I am grateful I have a secretary who does all my work related typing.

[Barrister]

Imagine if we had to appoint a member of the Sumpreme Court from a population of a few thousand.  Requiring someone to come from the Maritimes is bad enough.

We have some outstanding jurists in the North.

And some pretty good trial lawyers too...

[Habbaku]

The issue of language is also pwoerful - there was a minor controversy over whether apppointees must be know French.

We have some outstanding jurists in the North.

And some pretty good trial lawyers too...

Are any of them fluent in English?

[Faeelin]

Nope. But I don't thinks she's arguing that. I think she's pointing out that the traditional interpretation of the law has been skewed by the fact that the majority of judges are old white men; which is hard to dispute.

It is hard to dispute that the majority of judges are "old white men", but it is trivial to dispute that this has resulted in the law being "skewed".

I have no problem with old white, black, or light brown women being judges at any level - the idea that their race or gender is valuable outside their competence however, is exactly the opposite of what judges ought to be.

I dunno. I guess I'm just having trouble recognizing the law as being this abstract thing judges can find by waving their hands. Look at the disagreements on the Supreme Court as it stands now. Does anybody think Ginsburg's opinion in gender discrimination cases isn't colored by her experiences?

[Scipio]

Imagine if we had to appoint a member of the Sumpreme Court from a population of a few thousand.  Requiring someone to come from the Maritimes is bad enough.

I think that is how we ended up with Clarence Thomas. 

The justice from the South?

[Razgovory]

Imagine if we had to appoint a member of the Sumpreme Court from a population of a few thousand.  Requiring someone to come from the Maritimes is bad enough.

I think that is how we ended up with Clarence Thomas. 

The justice from the South?

It's not well known, but Clarence Thomas was based on a character from "Gone with the Wind".