1. Nixon and the Supreme Court

2. Supreme Court Nine members Appointed by the President and Approved by the Senate Job – interpret the Constitution and decide on the constitutionality of the laws Person in charge- chief justice- John Roberts First woman on SC- Sandra Day O’Connor Three women on SC today

3. 1950’s Chief Justice- Earl Warren Most of Court had been appointed by FDRoosevelt and Truman Liberal leaning – interpreted the Constitution “loosely” = “well… we think C means this …” Usually interpreted laws based on ideas of change and improving society Example- Brown vs. Board of Education “segregation of schools” – out

4. Other Court decisions 1965 – Griswold vs. Connecticut Court said that a state ( Conn in this case) could not prohibit contraceptives 1964-1966 Escobedo Case and Miranda Case Court said that people that are arrested have a right to know that anything they said could be used against them “ Miranda warning” – aka reading of rights

5. Nixon wanted to change the liberal leaning Court And some Conservatives wanted to impeach ( accuse) Chief Justice Warren of a crime … basically they did not agree with “left leaning” court AH!! Warren retired !! Nixon gets to appoint a new Chief Justice- Warren Burger and eventually 3 other Conservative judges These new justices would interpret the Constitution “strictly”- follow exactly what the Constitution says

6. Or so Nixon thought…. Before being appointed to the Court- judges often “seem” to have a certain view but once on the Court change RESULT?? The Burger Court was often reluctant to overrule decisions of the Warren Court

7. 1973 Court issues Roe v. Wade decision Which stated that abortion was legal in the USA Yikes!! A pro- choice decision/interpretation by a Conservative court. Conservatives were shocked Issue is still alive today