Roberts' and Alito's Influence on Supreme Court in 2007

KPBS | By KPBS Public Broadcasting

Published January 2, 2008 at 10:32 AM PST

This story was published more than 16 years ago.

The year 2007 was the first calendar year that the U.S. Supreme Court issues rulings with its new cast of judges, which include two new conservative justices, Alito and Roberts. We'll hear from two sa

Tom Fudge: This year is a presidential election year. And one of the reason partisans want to get their people to the polls is the president's ability to appoint Supreme Court justices. Just look at the last two people appointed to the court. Samuel Alito and John Roberts. So far, they have provided the necessary conservative votes needed in a case that prevents the use of race in creating integrated public schools. They ruled in favor of a case that allows schools to suppress speech that may encourage drug use. And they have upheld one ban on partial-birth abortion. Those who argue that calling today's court politically conservative is a simplification can certainly point to some exceptions.

Guests

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Glenn Smith , professor of constitutional law at California Western School of Law.
Dan Eaton , San Diego attorney and These Days legal analyst.