NOTE: This article was to have been posted hours ago. I was having some connectivity issues with my computer. I apologize for the delay.
Never, in my lifetime have I seen such disrespect for a sitting president…
Huffington Post
Chief Justice John Roberts will lead a contingent of six Supreme Court justices at President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech, quieting speculation that only Democratic appointees to the court would attend.
Roberts had objected to the partisan atmosphere at last year’s address, particularly after Obama offered rare criticism of the court during his speech.
Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg confirmed that six justices would be present at Tuesday’s speech, although she would not say which ones. But as three of the nine justices had previously all but ruled themselves out, it seemed a safe assumption that Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy would join their four colleagues who were appointed by Democratic presidents.
Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor also are expected to attend. For Kagan, it would be her first speech since Obama nominated her last year. Sotomayor was Obama’s first high court pick.
Justice Samuel Alito, who mouthed the words “not true” in response to Obama’s criticism, is spending this week as “jurist in residence” at the University of Hawaii law school. Justice Antonin Scalia, at the Capitol Monday to speak to the Tea Party Caucus, has not attended a State of the Union speech at least since the mid-1990s. Justice Clarence Thomas said last year that he doesn’t go because “it has become so partisan,” although he attended Obama’s first speech to Congress in February 2009. More…
Related Articles
- Should Supreme Court Justices Attend the State of the Union? (usnews.com)
- Three Supreme Court justices likely to skip State Of The Union (shortformblog.com)
- 6 justices to attend Obama speech Tuesday night (sfgate.com)
- 6 justices to attend Obama speech Tuesday night (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
The Fifth Column 