Post by Max Sinister on Feb 22, 2024 7:06:07 GMT
You know about the importance of the Supreme Court in the US. Even if we are no experts for law (anyone around?). Maybe for practical purposes it's easier to assume "Republican presidents appoint republican judges and vice versa", but in practice (at least for longer TLs) the individuals may count - if only because their lifespan will decide when the POTUS will appoint new ones.
Let's make an example: In 1945, the US get a republican president. (Maybe because the war is won in 1944 already, so there's no need to keep FDR anymore, and even if he runs again, he loses just like Churchill in 1945?)
As far as I see it:
- Fred M. Vinson will not even get on the SCOTUS, let alone become chief.
- The new POTUS will appoint replacements for Owen Roberts and Harlan F. Stone soon, and William Francis "Frank" Murphy in 1949. Also for Wiley Blount Rutledge Jr. who dies in 1949.
- Harold Hitz Burton will also not make it.
Possible republican judges:
Eisenhower appointed Charles Evans Whittaker, John Marshall Harlan II, Potter Stewart, William Brennan jr. But except for Harlan, they'd be quite young at that time and haven't spent much time in their offices yet...