The federal government directly impacts the …show more content…
Justice Elena Kagan has decided to withdraw from hearing the case as it conflicts with her personal work involvement. Kagan recused herself from the case back in 2013 because she worked with the case prior, so she already has an established point of view that prevents her from making a just decision. That leaves eight justices making the decision. Justices tend to vote in a fashion that support their party lines. Conservative justices tend to vote more conservatively, and liberal justices tend to vote more liberally. There are five conservative justices and only three liberal justices from the remaining eight justices. In all likelihood, the five conservative justices are likely to vote to repeal affirmative action that would give them the majority. This is why selecting justices is such an important matter. The president selects a justice whenever a seat on the bench is open, and the appointed judge serves for life. As a president, you want someone that has similar political beliefs as you. Judges elected by Republican Presidents in the 70’s and 80’s are still in the Supreme Court. 1970’s-1980’s Republican beliefs still play a part in modern politics. Political agendas play a role when presidents have to appoint a justice because they want a candidate that ten years down the line will make judicial decisions that support their views. That may be slightly off topic, but it demonstrates the power the president has in his hands when electing a justice. However, the power is also in the hands of Congress. Congress has to approve the justices before they can claim their rightful spot on the bench. To put things in context, politics from the 70’s and 80’s are coming back years later to impact the