What is better?
Jun. 4th, 2009 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
petmoosie"I would hope that a wise woman with the richness of her experience would, more often than not, reach a better conclusion. What is better? I … hope that better will mean a more compassionate and caring conclusion."--Sonia Sotomayor, 1994.
I would say that "better" means more likely to stand the test of time. For example, the Dred Scott decision did not stand the test of time. Laws passed after it basically reversed it. Lily Ledbetter was essentially reversed by legislation this year.
Of course, the judge's opportunity to make a decision like that is small. Most cases won't much impact beyond the people in the actual case. But the Supreme Court is supposed to be all about hearing the cases that change things.
I would say that "better" means more likely to stand the test of time. For example, the Dred Scott decision did not stand the test of time. Laws passed after it basically reversed it. Lily Ledbetter was essentially reversed by legislation this year.
Of course, the judge's opportunity to make a decision like that is small. Most cases won't much impact beyond the people in the actual case. But the Supreme Court is supposed to be all about hearing the cases that change things.
