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Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Vicksburg Post
Stevens, high court’s liberal leader, says retirement imminent At 90, he is oldest justice on the bench, was named to post by President Gerald R. Ford in 1975 WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says he “will surely” retire while President Barack Obama is still in office, giving the president the opportunity to maintain the high court’s ideological balance. Stevens said in newspaper interviews on the Web Saturday that he will decide soon on the timing of his retirement, whether it will be this year or next. Stevens, the leader of the court’s liberals, turns 90 this month and is the oldest justice. His departure would give Obama his second nomination to the court, enabling him to ensure there would continue to be at least four liberal-leaning justices. The high court is often split 5 to 4 on major cases, with the vote of moderate Justice Anthony Ken-
nedy often deciding which side prevails. “I will surely do it while he’s still president,” Stevens told The Washington Post. But Stevens, who was named to the court by Republican President Gerald R. Ford in 1975, says he still loves the job, and says he continues to write the first draft of his own opinions. Stevens says if it ever gets to point where he stopped doing that, it would be a sign he wasn’t up to the job anymore. Stevens is the second-oldest justice in the court’s history, after Oliver Wendell Holmes. He is the seventh-longest-serving justice, with more than 34 years on the court. Another liberal, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, had surgery last year for early-stage pancreatic cancer. While Gins-
burg has been her usual energetic self, including frequent speaking engagements and a teaching stint in Europe, longterm survival rates for pancreatic cancer are low. Ginsburg, 77, has said she intends to serve into her early 80s, and she has hired her clerks for the court term that begins in October 2010. Justices are reluctant to retire in bunches, mainly because they want the ninemember court as close to full strength as possible. Stevens also is nearing two longevity records. When he joined the court, he replaced the longest-serving justice, William O. Douglas, and would need to serve until mid-July 2012 to top that service record. He would surpass Holmes as the oldest sitting justice if he were to remain on the court
Moyer, longest-serving chief justice on a state Supreme Court, dies at 70 his colleagues COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — were brought to Ohio Supreme Court Chief tears. Justice Thomas Moyer, who “It’s just a huge was the longest-serving sittragedy for all of ting state Supreme Court us and a great chief justice in the United loss for his family States, has died at age 70. and for the citiMoyer was admitted to a zens of Ohio,” Columbus hospital Thursday Chief Justice morning after experiencing Thomas Moyer he said. “He was the quintessengastrointestinal problems and died Friday afternoon, tial image, and not just image court spokesman Chris Davey but the reality of dignity of said. Over the past few months the office of chief justice, and Moyer had health problems of the role of the courts in our that weren’t believed to be life- society.” Pfeifer said Moyer’s health threatening. Moyer, the second-longest- had deteriorated but he was serving chief justice in Ohio in court Tuesday, despite lookhistory, became chief justice ing “very ill,” and returned Jan. 1, 1987. He had planned to Wednesday looking much better. He said he was disretire at the end of the year. Justice Paul Pfeifer, who met appointed Moyer didn’t get Moyer when both were stu- a “very grand party” to end dents at the Ohio State Uni- his more than two decades as versity law school, said he and chief justice.
Moyer, a Republican, extended a bipartisan hand to the first Democratic governor in the state in 16 years when he delivered the oath of office to Gov. Ted Strickland in January 2007. Strickland on Friday ordered flags at public buildings and grounds flown at half-staff Monday through the day of Moyer’s burial. He called Moyer “dignified, respectful, thoughtful.” Among Moyer’s main efforts was to change the way judges are selected in Ohio. He had been pushing for a constitutional amendment requiring the appointment of state Supreme Court justices, rather than through election, because he believed having judges seek large campaign donations tainted the legal system.
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STILL YOUNG, STILL FUN!
★★★ Saturday, May 1 • 10a-2p ★★★ • St. Al Football Field & Gym •
Great Food, Water Fun, Games, Inflatables, Rock Wall, Mechanical Bull, BBQ Cook-Off, 4-way Euro Bungee Trampoline & So Much More!!!
DINNER & BINGO!
Start off the Weekend with Dinner & Bingo!!! Friday, April 30th St. Al Cafeteria •••
Dinner • 5:30p - 6:30p Catfish Dinner or Chicken Strip Dinner -$8 per plate or Family of 4 for $25
(Tickets available in advance at St. Al or St. Francis school offices or at the door. Limited numbers, so get yours early!)
Bingo • 6:30p - 8p $1.00 per card per play. Celebrity Bingo Callers, Great Prizes!
BBQ COOK-OFF CONTEST! Get Out Your Chef’s Hat!!! •••
Saturday, May 1st BBQ Cook-Off Contest St. Al Cook-Off Area BBQ Cook-Off set up by 8a Judging at 2, 3 & 4p. Awards at 4:30p
($50 entry fee per category per team. To download a list of the Prizes, Rules, Regulations & Entry forms visit: www.vicksburgcatholic.org)
! E M O LC E W IS E N YO ER EV , N U JOIN THE F Tickets: St. Francis School Office, at the gate or visit www.vicksburgcatholic.org to get an order form
St. Francis • St. Aloysius
1900 Grove Street • Vicksburg, Mississippi 39183
The associaTed press
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens sits for a new group photo at the Supreme Court in September. until Feb. 24, 2011. “I do have to fish or cut bait, just for my own personal
peace of mind and also in fairness to the process,” Stevens told The New York Times.
“The president and the Senate need plenty of time to fill a vacancy.”
Wheeless Shappley Bailess and Rector, LLP Attorneys at Law announces the relocation of the firm’s offices to BancorpSouth Building 820 South Street Suite 501 Vicksburg, MS 39180 Mail address: P.O. Box 991 Vicksburg, MS 39181-0991 Telephone: 601-636-8451 Facsimile: 601-636-8481 www.wsbrlawfirm.com
William L. Shappley Robert R. Bailess John C. Wheeless, Jr. Of Counsel
Kenneth B. Rector Allison M. Brewer
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