Think Progress

Study: Thomas is the most ‘partisan’ Supreme Court justice, Scalia is the most ‘activist.’

Conservatives commonly complain about “activist judges” pushing the court to the left when they disagree with the outcome of a court decision. But in a new study that examines “well over 20,000” judicial decisions, University of Chicago law professor Cass Sunstein concludes that the most activist judge on the Supreme Court is a conservative, Justice Antonin Scalia. The second most activist Justice was also a conservative, Justice Clarence Thomas, who was also found to be the most partisan Justice on the bench. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito were not included in the study because they have only been on the court for a short time.



21 Responses to “Study: Thomas is the most ‘partisan’ Supreme Court justice, Scalia is the most ‘activist.’”

  1. Oval12345678 aka James K. Sayre says:

    Five worthless right-wing gangsters on the Supreme Court stuck us with the fascist Bush regime in December 2000 by stopping the legitimate vote counting in Florida. Diebold and ES&S have kept the traitorous Republicans in power ever since. Long live electronic fascism.


  2. ohcomeon says:

    How much did they get paid to do this study? Whatever it was, I would have told them this for half the price.


  3. dbadass says:

    It is only “activism” when you disagree with the outcome, everybody knows that


  4. trollsbwild says:

    #1

    The best part was that the opinion they issued in 2000 on the Florida recount was a one time opinion. In other words, thye knew it was an unlawful decision.
    We have been paying ever since.

    This is the #1 eason why we can’t afford MyCane in the WH.


  5. Leftside Annie says:

    What. A. Surprise.


  6. dbadass says:

    dary11:
    So are you refuting his findings or his methodology? Do you believe academia leans left?


  7. Zimzone says:

    I watched Tony Soprano Scalia have a student removed from the room by security for ‘asking a question’ he didn’t like.

    Opine much?

    This was an OPEN forum, by the way.

    Thomas is still trying to figure out where that pubic,(or was it public?), hair came from in his mouth.


  8. StratRat says:

    dbadass Says:

    It is only “activism” when you disagree with the outcome, everybody knows that

    Yep. When you agree with me, it is an affinity group. When you don’t agree with me, then it’s a conspiracy!


  9. tombaker says:

    recalcitrant righties inevitably whine loudest about the very things they themselves do to advance their misanthropic agenda.

    they, the most witless, vain, and inattentive among us, voluntarily bind themselves in infantile, hyper-enthusiastic servitude to the money-kings they so desperately wish to be.

    as righty’s “empire of ignorance” continues to collapse, i’m afraid we’re going to have a lot more of these Adkisson events to grieve over – let’s all just hope it’s not many.


  10. Cats r Flyfishn says:

    Justice Clarence Thomas was never qualified for his position on the Supreme Court.


  11. RUCerious says:

    Dr. Matt, make that the 22% ers
    Bush approval————–approve/disapprove / diff
    Research 2000 LV 7/25-27/08 22—-/ 78——–/ -56


  12. The Shadow says:

    If you ask me Thomas, Scalia, Aliton, and Roberts are all NAZI extremists azzholes. They represent the Republican Party and it’s ideas rather than law the Constitution says. They substitute their own sick beliefs for law and that’s criminal. These men will go down in history for being not only partisan, but destroyed the US Constitution in the process. They claim to be judges but they only represent the most narrow minded idiots in this country who believe in being racist, seperatists, authoritian, and totalitarian. They have done more to undermine this country than the attacks on 9-11. When this country becomes a Police State then these idiots will be happy. They never met or saw a government position they didn’t like or approve of.


  13. 5150 says:

    Take the Pepsi Challenge, Mr Justice Clarence Thomas>>: A Coke and a Smile, or The Big Sucking Sound of Justin Timberlake


  14. TheRadicalRightisRadicallyWrong says:

    Cass is the guy for Telecomm imunity and no prosecution for the current administration. He’s also advising Obama on these very flawed ideas.

    Like it’s been said already, no study was needed to validate the idea that those justices are hacks. And it coming from Cass makes me deaf.

    Obama needs to jettison this advisor.


  15. Blame Canada says:

    It’s called projection. Conservatives really are:

    Racists
    Big government
    Big spenders
    Gay
    Warmongers
    Uber Christians
    lacking in moral’s
    Unethical
    No Family Values
    Don’t really care about the environment
    Loser’s

    They’re like what was heard in 1930’s Europe. Just replace Jews with Liberals.


  16. judyinnm says:

    I knew that without having to study 20,000 cases. In fact, it’s no trick to know in advance where these two judges are going to come down, on any issue that may come before them. In any case that pits individuals against corporations, government or law enforcement, both of them (& Roberts & Alito – we knew, going in, how they leaned) will be against the individual.

    Conservatives do not like our form of government – “of, by and for the people” is an anethema to them. That’s why they are always pushing for laws favoring laissez-faire for big business while restricting the rights of actual human beings.


  17. shoeless says:

    Another right-wing myth debunked.

    But, it won’t matter. Right-wing myths and talking points are unaffected by facts, and immune to reality. They are, in fact, the most durable concepts in the universe, since they are not subject to the laws of nature. Right-wing myths and talking points are immutable, monumental pillars of ignorance which rule the tiny minds of those who hold them up for all to see.


  18. Marie says:

    They needed to do a study on this? How long did that take and what did it cost.
    All they had to do was ask us – we could have cited instances, made the case, had it transcribed and gone out for dinner.


  19. Frosty Cupcake says:

    “Do you believe academia leans left?”

    Reality certainly leans Left.


  20. MCMetal says:

    TripleKick X Says:
    ——————————————————————————–

    And of course Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the sleepiest.

    July 31st, 2008 at 2:19 pm

    While Thomas is the sleaziest…………


  21. bratboy says:

    Rats need to be, in this case, impeached and removed from office.
    R=Roberts
    A=Alito
    T=Thomas
    S=Scalia



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