The Elephant in the RoomShould a teacher be forced to pay union dues to fund the campaign of a political candidate she does not support?
Can a state pass a law prohibiting the carrying of firearms in public, effectively making the Second Amendment null and void in that state?
Should a pharmacist be forced to sell abortion drugs despite his religious objections?
These are just a few of the issues that will be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in the months ahead. Their decisions will touch the lives—and rights—of every American citizen for generations to come.
The death of Justice Antonin Scalia has left a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Replacing him will be one of the most important tasks facing the next President of the United States. Will the next Justice be a champion of the Constitution, such as Scalia—judging laws and statutes based upon the text itself? Or will he or she apply meanings based on popular culture or provide interpretations to please the President?
Some Americans think that the meaning of words should change over time, that what is legal in a contract one day may be deemed illegal next year or 50 years down the line without any textual changes to the law or contract. Judge Scalia rejected this idea. He rejected the notion of judicial activism that involves inventing laws from the bench and giving legitimacy to Constitutional changes and creative interpretations of the document.
The standard set by Justice Scalia protects all citizens—liberals, conservatives and moderates. The recent practice of legislating from the bench goes beyond the duties set by the Constitution for Justices. The practice establishes a dangerous precedent. It gives permission for constantly changing interpretations of the Contstitution based on which ideology currently rules in Washington.
Donald Trump has promised to replace Scalia with another Justice who shares Scalia’s conservative views. If Hillary Clinton is elected President, she will appoint a liberal Justice to the bench, like Ginsberg and Sotomayor, which would create a solid majority of five liberal Justices that would ensure liberal and so-called “progressive” outcomes to all controversial decisions.
Our nation needs a leader who honors the Constitution. Our nation deserves Justices who will respect our founding document and perform, not exceed, the duties set for them. Casting a vote for the next President of the United States has never been more important.
Constitutional Day Essay Contest:
Educating our young people about their Constitutional rights is critical. That is why the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women are proud to support the local Constitutional Day Essay Contest, which encourages young people and their parents to examine once again this important founding document upon which our nation’s laws are based. For information about the contest and the cash awards for winners, visit https://losalamosgop.com/constitution-day-essay-contest/.
