Here Come Da Judge(s)

The Supreme Court opens their new judicial term today...sort of:

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court opens Monday with a bevy of cases relating to abortion, environmental rules and affirmative action. The size of jury awards and patent law are also on the docket for the 2006-2007 year.

The Bush administration's treatment of terrorism suspects, warrantless monitoring of Americans' communications with overseas contacts and efforts to invoke national security claims to stop lawsuits could also reach the court before the term ends in June.

And while cases involving religion may not specifically be argued this term, the personal beliefs of the justices could have an impact on the outcome of others.

Right from the start, hearings at the court are delayed by one day as two justices — Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer — take time off Monday to observe Yom Kippur, the most solemn day of the Jewish year. The court will convene briefly without them to issue orders and swear in lawyers to the Supreme Court bar.

Hmmm. Ginsberg and Breyer taking time off to observe Yom Kippur. Sounds like a violation of the separation of church and state to me.

This will be a big year for the court, with many potential landmark decisions on the way. The NY Times is already nervous:

The “partial birth” cases should reveal a lot about the views of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito. If they are as hostile to abortion rights as many court watchers believe, there may now be five votes in favor of the ban, which could outlaw many second-trimester abortions and endanger the lives of women.

Yeah, but just think what it will do for the lives of the babies.

With Roberts and Alito in position to rule on every case, things should get interesting. Justice Kennedy is probably reveling in his new position as official "swing" judge, so he'll continue to be unpredictable, but all in all, I think the court is in better shape than it was at the beginning of last year's term.