OPINION: Why There Is A Major Problem With The Supreme Court Right Now
There is a major problem percolating at the Supreme Court right now and it is one that threatens the very fabric of the United States.
There is a significant problem at the Supreme Court right now. The problem is inherent to the lineup of justices that currently have the power to enact deeply affecting national decisions. The problem is that the Supreme Court justices that are currently seated do not accurately reflect the diversity of this nation. Nor do they reflect the spectrum of perspectives that exist within the borders of the United States.
The supreme court’s most recent rulings highlight the gaping disparities that exist there at present. First, is the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. Second, in the wake of two deadly mass shootings, which have since been bookended by countless more, the supreme court voted to nullify a New York Law that restricted carrying concealed firearms in public. These two rulings were decidedly conservative in nature and were a result of what NPR aptly labeled the current “conservative supermajority” in the Supreme Court.
To be clear, the problem is not that there are conservatives on the justices’ panel at the supreme court. There should be. Just as there should be liberal and moderate perspectives. The problem is that other viewpoints and perspectives are being muted because of a 6 to 3 majority. Additionally, this majority is further exacerbated by the fact that not a single moderate is currently sitting as a justice of the Supreme Court. Hence, any rulings are currently being skewed in the direction of a single bias.
Moreover, this particular lineup of justices is unique because they have been exceedingly quick to rule on issues they deem most pressing. University of Michigan professor Leah Litman described them as a “‘YOLO court‘–You Only Live Once” court. And Case Western Reserve professor Jonathan Adler pointed out that this is “A court in a very big hurry.” In a hurry for what? It’s abundantly obvious that there is an underlying conservative agenda being pushed. That is dangerous because it makes them completely inflexible to considering or even hearing other perspectives. That kind of deep bias, given free reign to operate without checks and balances, poses a significant threat to the very nature of the judicial system. The current YOLO panel is scheduled to revisit matters involving race and the LGBTQIA+ population next term. At which time they will likely push forward with their discernable agenda.
Unfortunately, this is not a problem that happened overnight. In fact, some experts believe that it is symptomatic of an underlying division between the Union and Confederacy (modernly the Democrats and Republicans; liberals and conservatives) that has existed since our nation was founded. The current majority in the supreme court and their apparent zest for pushing their own attitudes and ideals is representative of one party wanting to overtake the other instead of wanting to work together and meet halfway. The current problem in the Supreme Court is the problem that is currently afflicting the nation. The US is a nation largely divided between two separate sets of ideals. And what’s unfortunate is that no one is taking to the time to take a step back and realize that the very fabric of the country itself is ripping apart at the seams. Ultimately, something has got to give. As of now, the future sadly looks like one of divided states, not United States.
