The Passing of William Rehnquist
September 2005 By Denny Hatch
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Who is the keeper of your flame?
Denny Hatch's Business Common Sense (September 8, 2005): Vol. 1, Issue #29
A Supreme Court justice, whose authority and position comes directly down from the Founding Fathers, is like the pope, whose power and authority comes through the laying on of hands directly down the centuries from Jesus Christ to St. Peter.
As with the pope, life tenure frees justices to focus their knowledge and experience like a laser and follow the dictates of their conscience with no fear of being fired. Justices can certainly be influenced by the arguments of the attorneys who appear before them. But the only people who can pressure Supreme Court justices are their colleagues on the bench.
Some remain true to the philosophy of the president who made the appointment. Others are transformed. When Dwight Eisenhower appointed California Governor Earl Warren as chief justice, a conservative agenda was expected. To everyone's amazement, Warren became a raging liberal, causing Eisenhower to later call the appointment "the biggest damn fool mistake I ever made."
The Constitution of the United States is America's beacon, and the Supreme Court is the lighthouse tender.
The Supreme Court's job is to keep the flame that was ignited by the Constitutional Convention of 1787 burning brightly and to fiercely resist all attempts by Congress, by the president and by special interests to dim or douse it.
American corporations should be so lucky.
How a Supreme Court Justice Thinks ...
For two years I had a wonderful client called Envision--a company devoted to creating Outward Bound-like experiences for high-achieving high school students. Instead of physically active adventures, Envision--for a very substantial chunk of your money--will for 10 days in summer throw your nascent physician deep into the inner workings of a great medical institution or your incipient lawyer into the legal and judiciary world of Washington, D.C.
Denny Hatch's Business Common Sense (September 8, 2005): Vol. 1, Issue #29
IN THE NEWS
Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died Saturday evening of cancer, ending a remarkable 33-year tenure on the Supreme Court and creating a rare second vacancy on the nation's highest court.
--Gina Holland
"Chief Justice Rehnquist Dies at His Home"
The Associated Press, Sept. 3, 2005, 11:58 p.m. U.S./Eastern
Shareholders of Nextel Partners have bid up its stock like a piece of hot Manhattan real estate, gambling that Sprint Nextel will pay an extraordinarily high price for such an important affiliate. Since Sprint's deal with Nextel was announced last December, Nextel Partners' shares have risen sharply, to nearly $26 from about $18. Sprint Nextel, meanwhile, has been talking down the price of Nextel Partners and other affiliates, making these once-symbiotic companies seem like mortal enemies.
--Andrew Ross Sorkin
"When Corporate Relatives Play Hardball"
The New York Times, Sept. 4, 2005
A Supreme Court justice, whose authority and position comes directly down from the Founding Fathers, is like the pope, whose power and authority comes through the laying on of hands directly down the centuries from Jesus Christ to St. Peter.
As with the pope, life tenure frees justices to focus their knowledge and experience like a laser and follow the dictates of their conscience with no fear of being fired. Justices can certainly be influenced by the arguments of the attorneys who appear before them. But the only people who can pressure Supreme Court justices are their colleagues on the bench.
Some remain true to the philosophy of the president who made the appointment. Others are transformed. When Dwight Eisenhower appointed California Governor Earl Warren as chief justice, a conservative agenda was expected. To everyone's amazement, Warren became a raging liberal, causing Eisenhower to later call the appointment "the biggest damn fool mistake I ever made."
The Constitution of the United States is America's beacon, and the Supreme Court is the lighthouse tender.
The Supreme Court's job is to keep the flame that was ignited by the Constitutional Convention of 1787 burning brightly and to fiercely resist all attempts by Congress, by the president and by special interests to dim or douse it.
American corporations should be so lucky.
How a Supreme Court Justice Thinks ...
For two years I had a wonderful client called Envision--a company devoted to creating Outward Bound-like experiences for high-achieving high school students. Instead of physically active adventures, Envision--for a very substantial chunk of your money--will for 10 days in summer throw your nascent physician deep into the inner workings of a great medical institution or your incipient lawyer into the legal and judiciary world of Washington, D.C.
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