Staff Reports
George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley has laid out the implications of a prospective second term under Donald Trump, particularly regarding the Supreme Court. According to Turley, if Trump manages to reclaim the presidency, the nation will likely see a Supreme Court that remains conservative and perhaps even younger than before. This is akin to finding a classic car that runs like a dream but now has a fresh coat of paint.
With Trump reportedly ensconced in a comfortable victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, GOP cheers can be heard echoing in the hallowed halls of power. Turley contends that Democrats’ long-cherished dreams of “packing” the Supreme Court are effectively sidelined, offering a sigh of relief for conservatives. The combination of Trump’s presidential victory and Republican control of the Senate could wring any hope out of progressive attempts to reshape the Court for a decade. The threat of a court overhaul has now been silenced; it’s like a soap opera that finally got canceled after too many cliffhangers.
Jonathan Turley previews what Supreme Court might look like after Trump finishes second term https://t.co/I08TxJuSQ6
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) November 7, 2024
In the context of this new administration, the current justices are likely feeling a bit more secure in their roles. Turley points out that aging figures like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito may utilize this opportunity to solidify their legacies, paving the way for replacements who adhere to their more traditional legal views. It’d be akin to a retirement party where everyone agrees that the successor should uphold the same values—complete with a cake shaped like a gavel.
Turley elaborates that the significance of a Trump win extends beyond just the justices in robes. Issues like abortion, gun rights, and religious freedom are likely to remain in the capable hands of states and the Constitution rather than being hijacked by progressive whims. Unlike a flimsy lawn sign picked up by the first gust of wind, these rulings have roots that will hold firm over the next decade, ensuring that conservative values remain at the forefront of legal discourse.
On the flip side, the left hasn’t given up the fight. Following a string of rulings that didn’t go their way, some Democrats revived the long-debunked call for court expansion. However, as Turley humorously notes, telling voters that they should trust a Congress with approval ratings plummeting faster than a lead balloon is a weed stew in itself. He suggests that justices are more interested in keeping the court’s credibility intact than following the stormy whims of Congress. The political landscape may have shifted, but the Supreme Court appears to be hunkering down like a well-fortified bunker against an oncoming summer storm.
