Lawyers group calls for Scalia’s recusal in torture cases.
By on Feb 15th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Lawyers group calls for Scalia’s recusal in torture cases.
Earlier this week in an interview with BBC News, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia defended torture, saying that it would be “absurd” to say the government can’t “smack” a suspect “in the face.” In light of these remarks, the National Lawyers Guild today called on Scalia “to recuse himself from any case coming before the Supreme Court involving the constitutionality of torture as an interrogation technique.”
UPDATE: The AP notes six other occasions in which Scalia’s comments have prompted calls for his recusal.
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Recusal from the entire job would be preferable.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:17 pmmaybe he can go hunting with Cheney and have dead-eye Dick “tickle” him in the face?
February 15th, 2008 at 5:18 pmHow about my group of 1 asking for his resignation?
February 15th, 2008 at 5:22 pmI wonder if it’s considered torture when that fat bastard sticks his entire foot in his mouth?
February 15th, 2008 at 5:23 pm.
What Scablia meant to say was:
“Of course it’s absurd to think America tortures. It’s not torture when America does it.”
.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:24 pmRecusal from the entire job would be preferable.
Comment by ForTruth — February 15, 2008 @ 5:17 pm
Preferably after January 20, 2009.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:26 pmCan you explain to me why Dems would want to remind the American people that they are weak on security?
http://voanews.com/english/2008-02-15-voa59.cfm
Could Pelosi somehow want to influence the primary process? Are we now going to hear Clinton and Obama talk about what they would do ahead of Ohio and Texas, two red states that demand security?
February 15th, 2008 at 5:31 pmAny Justice at any level of the judicial system, any politician or official at any level of the government, any police officer or member of our armed forces, who states, from their position of power, that it is “absurd to say [the government] can’t stick something under the fingernails, smack them in the face.” should immediately be removed from the position they hold, on the grounds of incompetence or psychological illness.
Seriously, Scalia deserves to be permanently removed from the bench (and disbarred) for such a tacit approval of SHOVING ITEMS UNDER PEOPLE’S FINGERNAILS, much less “smacking” prisoners around. Scalia, the last bunch of imbeciles who attempted to assert that such nonsense is OK we hanged. You know, sentenced in the Hague? Surely you know enough history to remember that the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA helped bring those terrible human beings to justice? We did so because they tortured, not in spite of it. We did so BECAUSE THEY VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS.
What a damned fool. What a damned bloody fool.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:32 pmAh yes, and now Hendler checks in to derail the thread.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:33 pmThe AP notes six other occasions in which Scalia’s comments have prompted calls for his recusal
– - Yeah, and how did that work out? The Lawyers Guild is farting into a gale wind.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:35 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — February 15, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Here’s an opinon from somebody who’s actually QUALIFIED to have one on the subject matter. BTW, how that loadstone around yer neck? Gittin’ heavier by the minute?
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/20080201_Bush_legacy__Setting_a_standard_in_fear-mongering.html
Let me be clear: Our ability to track and monitor terrorists overseas would not cease should the Protect America Act expire. If this were true, the president would not threaten to terminate any temporary extension with his veto pen. All surveillance currently occurring would continue even after legislative provisions lapsed because authorizations issued under the act are in effect up to a full year.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:42 pmJason’s Troll Tourette’s strikes again.
I wonder if there’s any medication that can help that…
February 15th, 2008 at 5:45 pmThe AP notes six other occasions in which Scalia’s comments have prompted calls for his recusal
- – Yeah, and how did that work out? The Lawyers Guild is farting into a gale wind.
Actually, Scalia did recuse himself based on his public statements with regard to the Pledge of Allegiance case, upon a motion by Michael Newdow.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:48 pmHere is the classic case showing that brilliance has nothing to do with reality, common sense, compassion or empathy. Scalia is unquestionably brilliant, yet he is so far out of humanity, he should not be in a position to judge anyone.
Having Scalia as a Supreme Court Justice is one of the biggest insults to this country I can imagine!
February 15th, 2008 at 5:49 pmCan you explain to me why Dems would want to remind the American people that they are weak on security?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — February 15, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
No, because they don’t and they aren’t.
Can you explain to us why you so frequently post irrelevant crap to threads in such an arrogant, self promoting fashion? Can you explain how you can continue to have such a narcissistic attitude when you have been so consistently wrong?
Actually, can you just NOT explain ANYTHING, by not posting anymore?
February 15th, 2008 at 5:54 pmHowever, if Scalia’s BBC statements are merely recitations of sentiments previously made in a court-issued opinion, then he is probably not subject to recusal.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:54 pmre-cuse? how about re-sign.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:55 pmScalia is a disgrace as a Supreme Court Judge – one of the worst on the bench today. Unfortunately, he has like company.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:57 pmScalia is unquestionably brilliant…so was Hitler.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:58 pmHaving Scalia as a Supreme Court Justice is one of the biggest insults to this country I can imagine!
Comment by Merlin — February 15, 2008 @ 5:49 pm
And it’s the result of Republican presidents appointing reasonable jurists with some sense of humanity to the High Court, and the wingnuts watching in horror as O’Connor, Kennedy and Souter, all of whom proved to adjudicate with moderation and compassion.
Bush I decided “Fu(k that,” and dropped the woefully unqualified but sufficiently black-and-regressive Clarence Thomas in to replace Thurgood Marshall, and Bush II used his rubber-stamp Congress to shove Roberts and Alito in our faces.
The Right simply cannot abide moderation and compassion in their jurists.
February 15th, 2008 at 5:59 pmre #12 – There’s no cure, medication nor treatment for stupidity.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:49 pmUnfortunately, the SCOTUS’ justices are in it for life.
Scalia is to the Constitution what Roseanne Barr is to the National Anthem.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:51 pmScalia is a Scumbag, useless, FACIST, POS phu(k!!!
He should be impeached before Dick(head) and Botch!! Clear a path!! Clear a path!!!
No more FACISTS!!!! Strike at the core of the enemy like Scalia the Scumbag!!! Impeach all of the FACISTS!!!!
Musollini would have been proud of this guido phu(k!!!!
February 15th, 2008 at 6:59 pmNobody should get a ‘lifetime’ job. When we do this,they are human and WILL abuse it. They must be responsible for their actions just like us, and CAN be fired. Stacking the court is a nixon trick on us to un-balance it in the neocon favor. Let’s let our leaders know this has to be changed.
February 15th, 2008 at 6:59 pmAn empty gesture by a powerless organization. The only time Scalia recused himself i.e. the “God in the Pledge of Allegiance” case, he was both certain of the eventual outcome and had little personally to lose by stepping aside.
-AF
February 15th, 2008 at 7:07 pmNobody should get a ‘lifetime’ job. When we do this,they are human and WILL abuse it.
Comment by wisedup
No. It should be the way it is. What does need to change is the compliant Congress who doesn’t seem to realize it has a part to play in our government. Advise and Consent. It is very clear that the Congress is used to being bullied and pushed around.
We get the government we deserve.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:34 pmPersonally, I think Angela Davis would be a much better Supreme Court Justice than this wigged out Scalia.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:41 pmPersonally, I think Angela Davis would be a much better Supreme Court Justice than this wigged out Scalia.
Comment by jb — February 15, 2008 @ 7:41 pm
A random decision-making machine that chooses how it will vote on each law completely at random would be better for this country than Antonin-friggin’-Scalia.
A deaf, blind, mute woman with no hands or feet who doesn’t yet understand the concept of the Rule of Law would be a better choice than Scalia, and would swiftly make better use of case-law and precedent than our “esteemed” fascist-on-the-bench.
A damned pile of elderberries covered in whipped cream would make more informed decisions than Scalia.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:52 pmMmmm… whipped cream…
February 15th, 2008 at 7:55 pmHe is a L U N A T I C and very dangerous.
February 15th, 2008 at 8:36 pmComment by Jason M. Hendler — February 15, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Democrats weak on national security? Let’s see, who was president when we were attacked on 9/11? Bush, yes, he’s a Democrat. Who sat by and did nothing except cut brush on his ranch when he received the August 6, 2001 PDB entitled Bin Laden determined to strike in U.S.? That’s right, a Democrat. Who allowed Bin Laden to escape our clutches in Tora Bora, that’s right, a Democrat…
wait, is there something wrong with my picture?
February 15th, 2008 at 9:04 pmNext thing you know, Fox News will be posting Bush – (D) after his term is over…
February 15th, 2008 at 9:05 pmNext thing you know, Fox News will be posting Bush – (D) after his term is over…
Comment by ucsbclassics53 — February 15, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
We should totally start a betting pool on how many days after the results of the elections in November it takes for FOX to do just that.
My guess? 3 days. It just sounds…so appropriate.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:19 pmAre we now going to hear Clinton and Obama talk about what they would do ahead of Ohio and Texas, two red states that demand security?
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — February 15, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
Uh, you might wanna rethink the “Red State” label.
I live in Ohio, bub, the capital city. And even though Bush NARROWLY won the state after the Chairman of the Board of Elections mishandled distribution of voting machines (causing an average two-hour wait in urban precincts of both Cleveland and Columbus), in 2006, we excised Republicans from governorship in a landslide Democratic victory. The darling of the Right, Ken Blackwell, lost to Ted Strickland.
We also overwhelmingly voted to replace our only Senator up for re-election, Mike Dewine — one of the most liberal Republicans in the Senate — with Sherrod Brown. DeWine’s campaign, in fact, focused on Brown’s supposed “weakness on terrorism”.
It didn’t work.
February 15th, 2008 at 9:51 pmScalia is the plural ending for the RATS.
R–Roberts
A–Alito
T–Thomas
S–Scalia
They all four need to resign for the good of the country.
February 16th, 2008 at 8:38 amScalia has as much business ruling on cases of torture as Larry Craig has business legislating on issues of morality.
Repugs — walking, living, breathing hypocrites.
Just saying….
February 16th, 2008 at 10:25 amJason, how do you avoid accidental strangulation when you do that hangin’ thing while pleasuring yourself? Suppose the chair kicks over? Sounds dangerous.
February 16th, 2008 at 10:33 amScalia has demonstrated he is unfit to sit on any bench other than the one where criminals await sentencing. The implications of his view on torture (the ends justify the means, can’t take chances) for due process and habeas corpus are staggering–effectively, they won’t exist, for any citizen. Welcome to Scalia’s Police State, where you have the right to remain silent, while we have the right to shove bamboo under your fingernails till you confess to…whatever we want you to confess to.
America is dead.
February 16th, 2008 at 10:42 amhe won’t recuse… if he refused to do so in a case which involved his hunting buddy, he won’t do it here, either…
February 16th, 2008 at 11:10 amYou won’t get recusal!!!
Do the right thing people!!
Impeach this Facist, Ghoul-Aid guzzlin’, Musollini offspring, guido, greaseball, RePugniScum, neo-convict, meatball!!!
Scalia is an enemy of democracy!!!! He is the new Mob 2.0!!!!
February 16th, 2008 at 4:32 pmI used to stand in awe of the Supreme Court. Many things changed my outlook but nothing more than Scallops Scalia, the Godfather of the supremes. He’ll just wacka yuz one…jus’ to get your attention and then he’ll tell ya about concrete shooz and da east river and if ya don’ do as he says well he’ll just smack ya around. A standing ovation for our Supremes and Tony Scallops.
February 16th, 2008 at 7:38 pmForget about recusal, that sucker needs to be impeached. And quickly!!!
February 16th, 2008 at 7:58 pmOh goodness.
March 20th, 2008 at 6:34 am