米国 最高裁判所改革のとき

米国最高裁判所判事は終身任期が憲法で保障されていますがこの事に対し一石が投じられました。行政府に対抗するために非常に強い権限が最高裁判事に与えられ、その任期が終身であるのは非民主的であるとか、審議する案件を判事の裁量で決めるのは傲慢でさえあるとの意見も見うけられます。
Legal Experts Propose Limiting Justices' Powers, Terms (Washington Post)
By Robert BarnesWashington Post Staff Writer
Monday, February 23, 2009; Page A15
If we had it to do all over again, would we appoint Supreme Court justices for life? Allow the chief justice to keep the job forever?
Let the court have the final word on which cases it hears and those it declines? A group of prominent law professors and jurists thinks not, and the group says in a letter to congressional leaders that there is no reason Congress should consider the operation of the high court sacrosanct...(more)

では、最高裁判事が引退するタイミングはいつなのか？こんな分析があります。
New Study Examines When and Why Supreme Court Justices Retire (Law.com)
Marcia CoyleFebruary 4, 2009
Do U.S. Supreme Court justices, as some historical evidence suggests, time their retirements with an eye to the partisan or political affiliation of the president or the Senate majority?
No, when it comes to retirement decisions, justices care more about power than party and policy, according to a new empirical study...(more)

懸案事項が目白押しで今年は最高裁にとっても厳しい年になりそうです。知財マターでは、BilskiやAventisのinequitable conductに関するcertiorariが審議対象となるか非常に気になるところです。
Tough Cases Await U.S. Supreme Court JusticesCritical cases affect business, employees and environment, among other issuesMarcia
CoyleFebruary 23, 2009
The U.S. Supreme Court returns this week after a monthlong break to what may be potentially the term's most difficult and significant decisions affecting business, employees, the environment and civil rights.
The high court's work thus far has produced no blockbusters, agree most Court watchers and litigators, but there have been important rulings in the areas of pre-emption -- increasingly a concern of business and consumers -- employment discrimination and criminal procedure...(more)

一方で、Ruth Bader Ginsburg判事(75歳）は癌手術を終え、法廷へ復帰したそうです。
Justice Ginsburg on the Bench as Supreme Court Reconvenes
Tony Mauro
Legal Times
February 24, 2009
Looking strong and cheerful, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg returned to the bench Monday morning, just 18 days after major surgery related to her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.
Ginsburg, 75, took her place on the bench with a smile. As is the Court's custom, no note was made of her return or her illness. Almost immediately after arguments began, she started asking questions of the advocates before her...(more)