
 |
|
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
|
| |
Jewish World Review
July 28, 2009
/ 7 Menachem-Av 5769
Judging the truth
By
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.
| 
|
|
|
| |
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
During confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominees, Senators always try to draw
out the witnesses on their judicial philosophy and views about the constitutional
implications of topical issues. Lately, with few exceptions, the would-be justices
have deftly deflected the questions, truthfully but opaquely responding in ways that
offer little grist for critics' mills.
Judge Sonya Sotomayor may have provided one of the exceptions. In particular, the
totality of what is now known about her views concerning the role of foreign law in
American courts suggest both a lack of candor before the Judiciary Committee and a
judicial philosophy that is at odds with the Constitution of the United States.
These issues should feature prominently as that panel meets Tuesday to vote on her
nomination.
That will certainly be the case if Committee member Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma has
his way. Last week, he issued a press release raising an alarm about Judge
Sotomayor's statements on the subject of "the use of foreign law in American
courts."
Such use has been aggressively championed by, among others, Harold Koh, President
Obama's controversial choice for State Department Legal Advisor. Koh is widely
expected to be the next Supreme Court nominee if Sotomayor's candidacy is not
derailed by her commitment to what has come to be known as "transnational
jurisprudence."
In a 2004 American Journal of International Law article, Koh enthused about this
jurisprudence as the work of "academics, nongovernmental organizations, judges,
executive officials, Congress, and foreign governments interacting in a variety of
private and public, domestic and international fora to make, interpret, internalize,
and ultimately enforce rules of transnational law." He notes that there is already
a substantial "transnationalist faction" in the high court led by Justice Ruth Bader
Ginsberg.
As Sen. Coburn points out, prior to her nomination, Judge Sotomayor declared: "I
share more the ideas of Justice Ginsburg…in believing that unless American courts
are more open to discussing the ideas raised by foreign cases, and by international
cases, that we are going to lose influence in the world. Justice Ginsburg has
explained very recently…that foreign opinions…can add to the story of knowledge
relevant to the solution of a question, and she's right."
The judge also espoused the view that, "International law and foreign law will be
very important in the discussion of how we think about the unsettled issues in our
own legal system. It is my hope that judges everywhere will continue to do this
because…within the American legal system we're commanded to interpret our law in
the best way we can, and that means looking to what other, anyone has said to see if
it has persuasive value." This hews basically to the standard transnationalist
line.
In the course of her nomination hearing, though, Judge Sotomayor espoused a very
different attitude under cross-examination by Dr. Coburn:
Sen. Coburn: "[W]ill you affirm to this Committee and the American public that,
outside of where you are directed to do so through statute or through treaty, [you
will] refrain from using foreign law in making the decisions that you make that
affect this country and the opinions that you write?
Judge Sotomayor: "I will not use foreign law to interpret the Constitution or
American statutes. I will use American law, constitutional law to interpret those
laws, except in the situations where American law directs a court."
Sen. Coburn: "So…there is no authority for a Supreme Court justice to utilize
foreign law in terms of making decisions based on the Constitution or statutes?"
Judge Sotomayor: "Unless the statute requires you or directs you to look at
foreign law. And some do, by the way. The answer is no. Foreign law cannot be
used as a holding or a precedent or to bind or to influence the outcome of a legal
decision interpreting the Constitution or American law that doesn't direct you to
that law."
That sounds pretty definitive, and reassuring. Yet, as Dr. Coburn's release makes
plain, in response to questions submitted by senators for the record, Judge
Sotomayor subsequently reasserted the idea that foreign law can be "used" by
American judges. To be sure, in so doing, she offered a number of caveats: "In some
limited circumstances, decisions of foreign courts can be a source of ideas, just as
law review articles or treatises can be sources of ideas." The judge goes on to
claim that "reading the decision of foreign courts for ideas, however, does not
constitute 'using' those decisions to decide cases."
It is instructive that Judge Sotomayor felt compelled to add that, "To the extent
that American courts categorically refuse to consider the ideas expressed in the
decision of foreign courts, it may be that foreign courts will be less likely to
look to American law as a source of ideas."
Senators swear an oath to "support and defend the Constitution." As they vote to
confer a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court on Judge Sonya Sotomayor, Sen.
Coburn's colleagues must square that pledge with his conclusion: "Judge Sotomayor's
written responses confirm many Americans' worst fears that she views the U.S.
Constitution, which is the basis of our rule of law, as an insufficient basis for
deciding cases and would instead allow the broader arena of international commentary
to influence her decisions."
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JWR contributor Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy in the Reagan Administration, heads the Center for Security Policy. Comments by clicking here.
Archives
BUY FRANK'S LATEST
"War Footing: 10 Steps America Must Take to Prevail in the War for the Free World"
America has been at war for years, but until now, it has not been clear with whom or precisely for what. And we have not been using the full resources we need to win.
With the publication of War Footing, lead-authored by Frank Gaffney, it not only becomes clear who the enemy is and how high the stakes are, but also exactly how we can prevail.
War Footing shows that we are engaged in nothing less than a War for the Free World. This is a fight to the death with Islamofascists, Muslim extremists driven by a totalitarian political ideology that, like Nazism or Communism before it, is determined to destroy freedom and the people who love it. Sales help fund JWR.
|
© 2006, Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Tony Blankley
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Jimmy Margulies
Rick McKee
Michael Ramirez
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters

Mr. Know-It-All
Dr. Peter Gott
GET A JOB! by Marty Nemko
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|