Images (15)
Document
| id |
id
26413563
|
|---|---|
| contentType |
contentType
document
|
| source |
source
import
|
Source image fields (6)
Extracted text
OCR Page 1 of 15Retirement
could be
ment named by Democratic
President Clinton than by -a
on docket
possibly Republican successor
to Clinton in the year 2001.
And if that assumption is cor-
rect, some think this would be
By Tony Mauro
the best year for Stevens to re-
USA TODAY
tire, before presidential poli-
tics and Clinton's scandal-
WASHINGTON - Supreme
Court Justice John Paul Ste-
weakened state make naming
vens is a chipper 78-year-old
a replacement more difficult.
who often flies to his condo-
Arguing against the rumors,
however, is the strong tradition
minium in Florida to squeeze
in games of tennis and bridge
of justices remaining on the
bench as long as possible, until
between court cases.
He has said nothing to en-
failing health makes retire-
courage rumors that he is
ment necessary.
"Justice Stevens still seems
thinking of retiring, and has
hired law clerks for the fall
very vigorous physically and in
his analysis," says Washington,
term that begins Oct. 5.
Yet the rumors persist that
D.C., lawyer Theodore Bou-
trous Jr. "Everything seems to
today, the last day of the cur-
suggest he will keep on going."
rent term, Stevens may an-
nounce his retirement after 23
But if Stevens does leave, it
is clear that Clinton will be un-
years on the high court.
If he does, the Washington,
der heavy pressure to name a
D.C., rumor mill has already
Hispanic to fill the vacancy.
produced a small list of possi-
Hispanics twice have been
ble replacements for Stevens,
passed over by Clinton - in
1993 with the nomination of
including two federal appeals
judges who would be firsts if
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and in
named to the Supreme Court:
1994 with Stephen Breyer.
If Clinton has another vacan-
Jose Cabranes of Connect-
icut, who would be the first His-
cy to fill, possibly the last of his
panic justice in history.
presidency, the lobbying to ap-
David Tatel of Washing-
point a Hispanic will escalate.
Cabranes, 57, was born in
ton, D.C., who is blind and
would be the first justice ap-
Puerto Rico and is a respected
member of the U.S. Court of
pointed with such a disability.
The Stevens retirement ru-
Appeals for the Second Circuit.
If Clinton heads in another
mors seem fueled by the na-
direction, one name that is
tional political calendar.
mentioned is that of Tatel, 56, a
Stevens was appointed to the
high court by Republican Pres-
former civil rights lawyer who
has been an appeals judge
ident Ford, but many court-
since 1994. He has been blind.
watchers who appraise him as
a moderate guess that Stevens
from a degenerative eye dis-
would rather have his replace-
ease for 24 years.
Rulings expected today
on harassment, 3 strikes'
WASHINGTON - The Su-
ment of two city lifeguards by
preme Court wraps up its cur-
supervisors even though anoth-
rent term todav with the ex-
er supervisor knew of the mis-
pected release of decisions on
conduct.
sexual harassment and Califor-
In the other case, Burlington
nia's "three-strikes" law.
Industries employee Kimberly
Just three of the 91 cases the
Ellerth wants to hold the com-
court has considered this term
pany liable, even though her
remain undecided. The court
refusal to submit to a supervi-
occasionally extends a case
sor's advances did not result in
into the next term to be re-
any adverse treatment.
argued, but usually issues rul-
The third case involves an
ings in all the cases it has heard
aspect of California's 1994 law
since the beginning of the term
that requires extra imprison-
in October. The court will re-
ment for a third felony convic-
cess until Oct. 5.
tion. The law also allows the
Two of the remaining cases
doubling of a sentence for a
could have major impacts on
second felony offense. A drug
sexual harassment in the work-
defendant claims that the law
place. In one, the city of Boca
amounts to unconstitutional
Raton, Fla. argues it should not
"double jeopardy" by punishing
be held liable for the harass-
him twice for the first crime.
USA TODAY
FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 1998
Relations
belongs_to