大法官過世遺下的問題 (3)

大法官過世遺下的問題 (3)

Results in key cases could change with Scalia's 

death-隨著史大法官的過世，主要案件的判決結果，可能有所改變。

且看歐巴馬總統在白宮布落格上，對此事的聲明與看法

A Responsibility I Take Seriously

本人鄭重承擔的責任

The Constitution vests in the President the power to appoint judges to the Supreme Court.  It’s a duty that I take seriously, and one that I will fulfill in the weeks ahead.

It’s also one of the most important decisions that a President will make.  Rulings handed down by the Supreme Court directly affect our economy, our security, our rights, and our daily lives.

Needless to say, this isn’t something I take lightly.  It’s a decision to which I devote considerable time, deep reflection, careful deliberation, and serious consultation with legal experts, members of both political parties, and people across the political spectrum.  And with thanks to SCOTUSblog for allowing me to guest post today, I thought I’d share somespoiler-free insights into what I think about before appointing the person who will be our next Supreme Court Justice.

First and foremost, the person I appoint will be eminently qualified.  He or she will have anindependent mind, rigorous intellect, impeccable credentials, and a record of excellence and integrity.  I’m looking for a mastery of the law, with an ability to hone in on the key issues before the Court, and provide clear answers to complex legal questions.

Second, the person I appoint will be someone who recognizes the limits of the judiciary’s role; who understands that a judge’s job is to interpret the law, not make the law.  I seek judges who approach decisions without any particular ideology or agenda, but rather a commitment to impartial justice, a respect for precedent, and a determination to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand.

But I’m also mindful that there will be cases that reach the Supreme Court in which the law is not clear.  There will be cases in which a judge’s analysis necessarily will be shaped by his or her own perspective, ethics, and judgment.  That’s why the third quality I seek in a judge is a keen understanding that justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook.  It’s the kind of life experience earned outside the classroom and the courtroom; experience that suggests he or she views the law not only as an intellectual exercise, but also grasps the way it affects the daily reality of people’s lives in a big, complicated democracy, and in rapidly changing times.  That, I believe, is an essential element for arriving at just decisions and fair outcomes.

A sterling record.  A deep respect for the judiciary’s role.  An understanding of the way the world really works.  That’s what I’m considering as I fulfill my constitutional duty to appoint a judge to our highest court.  And as Senators prepare to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to consider the person I appoint, I hope they’ll move quickly to debate and then confirm this nominee so that the Court can continue to serve the American people at full strength.

   

              前排左二為已故大法官

Editor’s Comment: 編譯者看法：

A)  As Justice Scalia was a conservative, who often plays an important role in decision, the President is now in a dilemma of nomination. Should Obama nominate another conservative, favoring the Republican Senate?  That is the last thing he would do.  Should he nominate a liberal? It would make Democrat unhappy.  Should he nominate a moderate? It will make bi-partisans happy? Or should he nominate a Latino-American? Of course, the Republicans will not likely show disapproval, arousing Latino’s antipathy. Or a minority Asian?

B)  美國總統有權提名大法官人選，但同意權在共和黨控制的參議院。要提名保守派或自由派? 或少數族裔，歐巴馬陷入「數難」之中……。若總統任期內產生不了，只得留給下任決定，不論是共和黨或民主黨。

但最近有人猜測，歐巴馬有意提名共和黨員 (Brian Sandova-墨西哥裔) 來反將共和黨一軍。桑多瓦1994年踏入政壇，當選州議員；1999年出任內華達州博弈委員會（Gaming Commission of Nevada）主席，監管拉斯維加斯、雷諾（Reno）等地的賭博業：2002年當選州檢察長；2005年被小布希總統提名出任聯邦法官，參議院全票通過；2010年當選內華達州長，2014年輕鬆連任。

在共和黨內，對於婦女人工流產（墮胎）選擇權、同性婚姻合法化、鬆綁移民法規等敏感社會議題，桑多瓦算是溫和派。去年聯邦最高法院祭出歷史性判決，讓全美各州的同性伴侶可以合法結婚，桑多瓦主政的內華達州也從善如流。對於歐巴馬推行的健保改革，桑多瓦則是有條件配合。但Sandova曾經多次與工會交鋒，堅決反對加強槍枝管制，這些背景都讓自由派坐立不安。

全文完

Justin Lai 編譯

02/29/2016