I had only just woken up, and so had to double-check that I was reading the KGW email alert correctly. But so I had. Today, the United States Supreme Court rebuffed the Federal government’s ongoing attempts to overturn Oregon’s one-of-a-kind physician-assisted suicide law.
On a vote of 6 to 3, no less. Who dissented? Well, that tells you a lot, in fact. Roberts, Thomas, and Scalia dissented. Since it was generally accepted by many that Ashcroft’s arguments (I know he’s gone, but this always was Ashcroft’s pet project) had no legal merit and were a bastardization of the Controlled Substances Act, there’s only one rationale for these dissents: Personal and political opposition to the law.
So much for Roberts’ telling the Senate that he’d simply interpret the laws of the land and not act ideologically. I guess that makes him an activist judge, no?
It was a little disappointing to see Roberts side with Scalia and Thomas. But it was still only his first case.
I wonder if this decision will prompt Democrats to stage a more forceful opposition to Alito?