With great power comes great responsibility.
Spiderman’s mantra rings true for President George W. Bush as he responds to the death of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and the retirement of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. With two Supreme Court appointments on his hands, the president will have great influence over what happens in the U.S. government long after his last day in office.
From abortion to Internet use, the Supreme Court makes decisions that are important to the future of our country and our private lives — and the people making those decisions could remain in their positions until we are senior citizens. As the future consumers, business owners, home owners, leaders and even just residents of the United States, we have a vested interest in who serves on our country’s highest judicial body.
Rehnquist, for instance, had been in the Chief Justice seat since 1986, when most Ball State University students were toddlers or infants. He was first appointed by Gerald Ford, meaning he's helped interpret the nation’s laws through the tenures of six presidents, spanning more than three decades. When Ford placed Rehnquist on the Supreme Court and when Ronald Reagan placed him in the court’s highest position, they knew their appointments would affect the governments and citizens to follow.
Currently, Bush is facing open seats that belonged to a steadfast conservative who had been a pillar of the court since the 1970s (Rehnquist) and a moderate swing voter whose opinions often determined which direction a Supreme Court ruling would fall (O’Connor) — two very important seats, two seats Bush now has the great responsibility to fill.
Bush’s appointment of John Roberts to replace O’Connor was significant, but his suggestion to bump Roberts, who has never served on the Supreme Court, to the Chief Justice position is monumental.
So, if you think the decision of who will fill these seats is irrelevant to your life, you may want to think again.
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