Ginsburg’s successor is relevant not only to the American judiciary, but to all of American politics.
The Supreme Court is the highest American body with judicial power and consequently has a lot of power. Article 3 of the United States Constitution guarantees the independence of judges. It affirms that the judiciary can remain in office “as long as its position is impeccable.”
However, members of the highest court in the United States also have political convictions. And their appointment for life, which actually provides for article 3, can lead to these sentences being consolidated in jurisprudence for a long time. The deciding factor for this line is the balance of power in the Supreme Court, which results from the interaction of individual judges.
The president of the United States shapes the body
Since 1869, the Supreme Court has been comprised of a total of nine justices. Under the constitution, the president of the United States appoints justices “with the advice and consent” of the Senate, thus requiring a (simple) majority of 100 senators.
If a president does not have a political majority in the Senate, the Senate can block a candidate. More recently, in 2016, Republicans refused to confirm Barack Obama’s proposal, arguing that a new judge should not be appointed in the election year.
Legend:
Recently, some Democrats called for the Supreme Court to be reformed by increasing the number of justices. Some lawyers advocate depriving the court of exclusive decision-making power over certain cases.
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Conservatives currently have an advantage
After the death of US Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Washington Supreme Court, which actually had nine justices, had to temporarily work with eight justices. Five of them are considered conservative, three represent – as Ruth Bader Ginsburg did before her death – the liberal bloc. During her tenure, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, already appointed two conservative judges of the United States.
Depending on which US president appoints Ginsburg’s successor before or after the presidential election, the liberals on the US Supreme Court could continue to lose weight or at least maintain their influence.
In the image gallery, an overview of the remaining eight judges is organized according to their political orientation, from left liberal to conservative:
The justices of the Supreme Court
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1/9
Legend:
Sonia Sotomayor
Sotomayor (66) often fights for underrepresented sections of society and tries to protect disgraced, forgotten, or unpopular applicants. It is based mainly on a basic left-liberal attitude.
Keystone
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2/9
Legend:
Elena Kagan
Along with Sotomayor, Kagan (60) belongs to the left-liberal spectrum on the Supreme Court. The two judges appointed by President Barack Obama are in majority agreement. Kagan is the youngest and the fourth judge.
Reuters
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3/9
Legend:
Stephen Breyer
Breyer (82) values commitment, is seen as a moderate mediator, but tends more to the left. The judge, once nominated by Bill Clinton, is known for his excellent writing style and lengthy questions during oral hearings.
Reuters
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4/9
Legend:
John Roberts
Roberts (65) is president of the Supreme Court and belongs to the conservative camp, but not ultra-conservative. The George W. Bush-appointed judge took pro-Republican positions on abortion and gun issues, but has drifted slightly to the left in recent years.
Keystone
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5/9
Legend:
Neil gorsuch
Gorsuch (53) already had the reputation of a clear advocate of lax gun laws when Trump proposed him as a Supreme Court justice in one of his first official acts. It is thanks to the conservative that parts of Trump’s immigration ban could be implemented for some Muslims against much resistance.
Reuters
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6/9
Legend:
Brett kavanaugh
Kavanaugh (55) was the last Supreme Court justice to date. Trump struck out his preferred candidate in 2018 against massive opposition after several women accused him of sexual assault. In the corresponding Senate hearing, he was discredited as a judge in the presence of many short-tempered critics.
Keystone
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7/9
Legend:
Samuel Anthony Alito
Alito (70) is the rock star of the religious right on the Supreme Court The opinions of the judge nominated by George W. Bush are mostly predictable: he is against abortion, gay marriage, stricter gun laws and the strictest conditions for campaign donations.
Reuters
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8/9
Legend:
Clarence thomas
Thomas (72) is considered an arch-conservative. He spoke out against the right to same-sex marriage. The African American from the southern state of Georgia is almost always silent during oral negotiations, but his splattered texts are even sharper.
Reuters
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9/9
Legend:
Ninth judge: still unknown
That would still be the judge who inherited Ruth Bader Ginsburg in his office. Their political stance depends on who appoints them. If you are elected before the US presidential election, you can expect a conservative candidate. Because then, inevitably, it will be proposed by Donald Trump.
