Re: Justice Stevens' opinion

[WMSteed@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/13/00 4:56:19 PM, scooke@uidaho.edu writes:

<< Visionaries,

    From the Supreme Court Opinion 


Cite as: 531 U. S. ____ (2000) 7

STEVENS, J., dissenting

What must underlie petitioners' entire federal assault

on the Florida election procedures is an unstated lack of

confidence in the impartiality and capacity of the state

judges who would make the critical decisions if the vote

Counts were to proceed. Otherwise, their position is wholly

without merit. The endorsement of that position by the

majority of this Court can only lend credence to the most

cynical appraisal of the work of judges throughout the

land. It is confidence in the men and women who administer

the judicial system that is the true backbone of the

rule of law. Time will one day heal the wound to that

confidence that will be inflicted by today' s decision. One

thing, however, is certain. Although we may never know

with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this

year' s Presidential election, the identity of the loser is

perfectly clear. It is the Nation' s confidence in the judge

as an impartial guardian of the rule of law.

I respectfully dissent. (emphasis added) >>


AND YOUR POINT IS?

Walter Steed