A justice’s rulings can depart radically from what the appointing president expected

Evidence

Thus, although President Nixon appointed Justice Harry Blackmun expecting that he would take a conservative position on the rights of defendants, Blackmun is best known for his opinion in Roe v. Wade (1973), announcing that the Constitution safeguarded a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion. Indeed, in the years after that decision, Blackmun frequently aligned himself with the liberal wing of the Court. In sum, once appointed, a justice’s perspective may change. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 752

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the standing-noted claim that judges’ values and discretion mean who sits matters — but this cuts the other way, showing even careful screening has limits. — connects to: Constitutional design gives the president and Senate shared federal judicial appointment power — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 646; Supreme Court shifts can be explained by either legal doctrine or judicial politics. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2432; Judicial discretion is channeled by constraints, not eliminated. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 188 (+7 more)

Broader Connections

• Lower court judges shaped by local politics can blunt a Supreme Court mandate. #exemplifies (0.85) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1545
• Judicial discretion is channeled by constraints, not eliminated. #qualifies (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 188
• A holding’s rationale can become immaterial as judicial perspectives shift. #expands (0.80) — Ruggero J. Aldisert, Agatha D. Aldisert, Logic for Lawyers- A Guide to Clear…, 1296
• Supreme Court shifts can be explained by either legal doctrine or judicial politics. #expands (0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 2432
• Respect for precedent keeps courts from reversing failed policies. #contradicts (0.75) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1482
• A courtier’s duty is to flatter the ruler’s whim, not the thing itself #responds-to (0.75)