Ideological Makeup of the Supreme Court

[Jonnyboy]

So a few years back, using this (http://www.sunysb.edu/polsci/jsegal/qualtable.pdf) as a reference, I created a graph illustrating the ideological makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1941 forward. I thought it would be an interesting thing to post, given the recent Sotomayor confirmation.

I was thinking about including a poll on this thread in the future, asking the participant's opinion on the role of the Supreme Court in governance. I'd like to gauge interest in this topic before doing so, however.

The graph is pretty straightforward. There are dashed, verticle lines to indicate a change in Executive leadership. Conservative scores are negative, liberal positive.

http://forums.intpcentral.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=7740&d=1250638466

[stuck]

Link for the criteria of defining "liberal" and "conservative" in a changing society, please.

[Jonnyboy]

If someone could correct my typo in the title, that would be great. Ideological.

Edit: Thanks!

[Jonnyboy]

Link for the criteria of defining "liberal" and "conservative" in a changing society, please.


An analysis can be found here (http://epstein.law.northwestern.edu/research/conferencepapers.1994MPSA.pdf).

[avolkiteshvara]

How do you measure someone radically conservative from moderately liberal.

[Jonnyboy]

How do you measure someone radically conservative from moderately liberal.

I'm sorry, I don't understand what you're asking. Could you rephrase it for me please? :)

[Robotron]

I detect a liberal bias.

[Jonnyboy]

I detect a liberal bias.

Perhaps, but it is not from me. I simply translated the numbers from the study into a graph. One should note, however, the nature of the Supreme Court during the civil rights movement and the Supreme Court's nature today.

I think there is significantly less legislation from the bench. When Roe v. Wade was passed, the decision was 7-2. Now, we have 4 justices who would repeal it and maybe even a few others who might not repeal it but wouldn't have voted for it in the first place.

Edit: Although I support a woman's right to have an abortion if she so desires, I am not saying I am in support of the Supreme Court's decision that such a right is afforded under the Constitution.

[lowtech redneck]

"liberal" and "conservative" are slanted labels to begin with; policy preferences are only of primary importance if one views the Constitution as a "living document," so the dichotomy assumes the absence of originalist jurisprudence. The addition of an advocate of "judicial realism" changes the balance even further, as even "liberal" advocates of the "living document" concept have at least SOME boundaries (albeit extremely fuzzy ones) regarding the parameters of Constitutional interpretation.

[Unapplied Knowledge]

Why just liberal and conservative? That gives no idea of statism vs libertarianism.

[Jonnyboy]

"liberal" and "conservative" are slanted labels to begin with; policy preferences are only of primary importance if one views the Constitution as a "living document," so the dichotomy assumes the absence of originalist jurisprudence. The addition of an advocate of "judicial realism" changes the balance even further, as even "liberal" advocates of the "living document" concept have at least SOME boundaries (albeit extremely fuzzy ones) regarding the parameters of Constitutional interpretation.

Yes, the nature of a linear measurement system such as the one used for this graph requires slanted labels. The Constitution is a document to be interpreted and, as the study notes, those interpretations vary depending on policy preference. I would take the graph at face value: a chart-representation of numerical data, the values of which are assigned based upon the writings of individual judges "pre-confirmation." Whether or not one concludes anything from this graph is up to the individual.

[Jonnyboy]

Why just liberal and conservative? That gives no idea of statism vs libertarianism.

You're right. Perhaps you should devise a system of measuring those qualities in Supreme Court justices.

[Unapplied Knowledge]

You're right. Perhaps you should devise a system of measuring those qualities in Supreme Court justices.

Perhaps I should. It would make an interesting diversion. Then it could all be put on a plane.. hmm..

[Architectonic]

Why just liberal and conservative? That gives no idea of statism vs libertarianism.

Divide and conquer. :p

[egregious cerebrum]

All supreme court judges should be influenced by a strict doctrine of nihilism and an incorruptible adoration of cottage cheese.

[Pantycrickets]

Idealy I would like the supream court to do their makeup like this:
http://weird-websites.info/Face-Paint/images/spiderman-face-painting-girls-pictures.jpg