Paul V McNutt
Banned
What if the decision had gone the other way? How would American politics have been different in the last five years? As for the POD, I will use the least complicated and least controversial of my many liberal Supreme Court TLs.
In 1967, Earl Warren decides to retire. Johnson nominates Associate Justice Abe Fortas to replace Warren and Appeals Court Judge Homer Thornberry to replace Fortas. The Senate confirms both of them. In 1969, the revelation that Fortas took money for undisclosed projects from a foundation run by Louis Wolfson. a financier who was later convicted of securities fraud created a scandal. After pressure from the Nixon Justice Department, Fortas resigned. He was replaced by Warren Berger. In 1971, Harry Blackmun and William Rehnquist joined the court, after the retirement of Hugo Black and John Harlan. In 1975 John Paul Stevens replaced William O Douglas. In 1978, Justice Thornberry left the court and Shirley Hoffsteder took his place. In 1981, Robert Bork came to the court after Potter Stewart retired. In 1986, Chief Justice Berger stepped down and William Rehnquist became the new leader of the court. Antonin Scaiia replaced Rehnquist. In 1990, William Brennan left the court and David Souter took his place. Although Thurgood Marshall was getting old and falling apart he knew he had to preserve the court's liberal majority, he delayed retirement. After his death on January 24, 1993, Clinton nominated Appeals Court Judge Harry Edwards. After the 1993 term, Byron White retired and Ruth Bader Ginsberg replaced him. In 1994, Harry Blackmun retired and was replaced by Stephen Bryer. In 2005 Chief Justice Rehnquist died and John Roberts took over. In 2009. David Sutor and Harry Edwards retired they were replaced by Sonia Sotomeyer and Leah Ward Sears.
So when the court handed down the decision in Citizens United, Justices Stevens, Hoffsteder, Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomeyer and Sears signed a decision that preserved the regulations on corporate and union political speech. Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Bork and Scaiia desented.
In 1967, Earl Warren decides to retire. Johnson nominates Associate Justice Abe Fortas to replace Warren and Appeals Court Judge Homer Thornberry to replace Fortas. The Senate confirms both of them. In 1969, the revelation that Fortas took money for undisclosed projects from a foundation run by Louis Wolfson. a financier who was later convicted of securities fraud created a scandal. After pressure from the Nixon Justice Department, Fortas resigned. He was replaced by Warren Berger. In 1971, Harry Blackmun and William Rehnquist joined the court, after the retirement of Hugo Black and John Harlan. In 1975 John Paul Stevens replaced William O Douglas. In 1978, Justice Thornberry left the court and Shirley Hoffsteder took his place. In 1981, Robert Bork came to the court after Potter Stewart retired. In 1986, Chief Justice Berger stepped down and William Rehnquist became the new leader of the court. Antonin Scaiia replaced Rehnquist. In 1990, William Brennan left the court and David Souter took his place. Although Thurgood Marshall was getting old and falling apart he knew he had to preserve the court's liberal majority, he delayed retirement. After his death on January 24, 1993, Clinton nominated Appeals Court Judge Harry Edwards. After the 1993 term, Byron White retired and Ruth Bader Ginsberg replaced him. In 1994, Harry Blackmun retired and was replaced by Stephen Bryer. In 2005 Chief Justice Rehnquist died and John Roberts took over. In 2009. David Sutor and Harry Edwards retired they were replaced by Sonia Sotomeyer and Leah Ward Sears.
So when the court handed down the decision in Citizens United, Justices Stevens, Hoffsteder, Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomeyer and Sears signed a decision that preserved the regulations on corporate and union political speech. Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Bork and Scaiia desented.