Justice Souter to step down in June, pro-abort replacement a given

It's all across the internet.

Politico: "Supreme Court Justice David Souter plans to retire this year – giving President Barack Obama his first chance to shape the court in his image, according to Democratic sources."

New York Times:

"Justice Souter, who was appointed in 1990 by a Republican president, the first George Bush, but became one of the most reliable members of the court’s liberal wing, has grown increasingly sour on Washington and intends to return to his home state, New Hampshire, according to the people briefed on his plans. One officials said the decision might be announced as early as Friday."

... During a campaign debate last fall, Mr. Obama said the selection of a new justice would be “one of the most consequential decisions of the next president.”

... On the always explosive issue of abortion, he said he would “not provide a litmus test,” but added, “I am somebody who believes that Roe versus wade was rightly decided.”

So we can expect someone in the mold of another Souter. Obama will continue his track record of not being at all "conflicted" about abortion "rights" when it comes to practical decisions like Supreme Court nominees.

{update - Blogger Thomas More thinks this could be good news.}
{update 2 - changed "pro-choice" to "pro-abort" in blog title. Thanks for the catch.}
{update 3 - "Specter's Defection Could Help Republicans Block a Nominee to Replace Souter"}

North Dakota House Gives Fertilized Eggs Human Status

There are currently fifteen states pursuing personhood legislation, Judy Brown reports.

One of them, North Dakota, has passed a "Personhood of Children Act" 51-41 in the house. It will go to their senate in the next 2-3 weeks.

More from local press:

"[This news] means a fetus could not be legally aborted without the procedure being considered murder. Minot Republican Dan Ruby has sponsored other bills banning abortion in previous legislative sessions - all of which failed."

Ed Morrissey says "don’t count your chickens until the eggs hatch, pun intended."

I can't say I have too much hope this will survive, but stranger things have happened. I pray that it does.

[Picture: Flickr user Lynn]

Soon in DC, you'll be able to defend yourself again

It happened:

Silent on central questions of gun control for two centuries, the Supreme Court found its voice Thursday in a decision affirming the right to have guns for self-defense in the home and addressing a constitutional riddle almost as old as the republic over what it means to say the people may keep and bear arms.

The court's 5-4 ruling struck down the District of Columbia's ban on handguns and imperiled similar prohibitions in other cities, Chicago and San Francisco among them. Federal gun restrictions, however, were expected to remain largely intact. (AP)

While it is the talk of the town, I'm not sure that I have anything significant to contribute. Help?