O'Connor steps down (merged threads)

[SacTown Chronic]

Was Jesus unavailable?

[scaeagles]

Well, Rehnquist is supposedly handing in his resignation today. I have also heard speculation the ancient Stevens is also considering resigning.

While two vacancies at once is rare and hasn't happened in a long time, three would be unprecedented.

I heard Jon Kyl (one of my Az Senators) interviewed today locally. He serves on the Senate judiciary committee. He has said that various members of the committee are planning on presenting many hypothetical cases to nominees and demanding to know how they would rule. I honestly hope this does not happen, and any justice who would answer such questions would then either have to recuse him/herself from any similar case brought before the court or not answer the questions. In fact there are rules on the committee that nominees are not allowed to answer hypotheticals (or so I learned today) because any hypothetical cannot possibly present all facts that would be presented to the court.

One - big battle. Two - bigger battle. Three - armageddon.