Jon Stewart Goes ‘Behind the Robes’ of Sandra Day
Yesterday Justice Sandra Day O’Connor made an appearance in her former stomping grounds at One First Street. The retired justice was present in the courtroom to attend argument in Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Company (a case involving judicial independence, an issue near and dear to her heart).
SOC [FN1] had a great seat, in the section reserved for justices’ spouses. But it obviously wasn’t as great as sitting up there, peering down upon — and sparring with — the lawyers. One can’t help wondering whether part of Justice O’Connor wishes she were still an active member of the Supreme Court.
On the other hand, being a retired justice allows Justice O’Connor to do all sorts of fun things that maybe she couldn’t have done while still on the Court — like appearing extensively on TV. Right now she’s making the talk show rounds to promote her new educational website, Our Courts (which we have written about before). She started out on the Daily Show last night and moved on to Good Morning America today.
Jon Stewart said he was excited to go “behind the robes” of the Supreme Court’s “swing justice.” Dirty talk about Sandra Day just seems so wrong.
In this clip, SOC explains how she was motivated by the legislative branch’s demonization of the judicial branch as being full of “activist judges… secular, godless humanists trying to tell us what to do.” Watch out, Congress!
Stewart and Sandra Day did a little joking back and forth, but she did not like him calling her a swinger. “As the swing justice,” Jon Stewart started to say, but Sandy Day interrupted to say, “We don’t use that word. Swing.” And then she hums and does a cute little dance. We won’t call her a swinger. We’ll just call her adorable.
[FN1] You’d expect Sandra Day O’Connor to go by the moniker “SDO.” But members of the Elect who clerked when Justice O’Connor was active will inform you, with a touch of hauteur, that she goes by “SOC” around the Court.
Check out both clips of her appearance, after the jump.
Two clips appear below. Or you can watch the full episode here.
Sandra Day explained to Stewart that only a third of Americans can name the three branches of government, while 75 percent can name one American Idol judge. Stewart’s response on how to fix that: “We’re going to need more than a website.”
O’Connor Corrects Jon Stewart in Daily Show Appearance (See the Video Clips) [ABA Journal]
Earlier: An Update on Sandra Day and ‘Our Courts’ and Sandra Day Gets Her Game On
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Comments
What a fun clip!
Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.
Why do you think that Justice O'Connor could not have appeared on television before she retired? Supreme Court justices appear on television for interviews with some regularity. They don't usually do the Daily Show, but there's no reason why they can't.
Dear #3:
In the immortal words of Bill Hicks, "Shut up."
gotta love SOC, but i don't see why calling out stewart on the trial/oral argument distinction was necessary.
she was such a hottie:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/flower.gap.evedunn.gif
SDO is the best - I named my puppy after her.
#5 -- she was on there to promote a website that educates people about, among other things, the judiciary, after learning of the public's appalling ignorance about civic issues. The very fact that Stewart didn't 't know that SCOTUS doesn't have "trials" is indicative of the problem, and I think she was right to correct him.
8, fair point.
-5
Oh my god. *THIS* is what the site looks like without ad-block? This site has credit score ads? And that shitty grape video -- wow.
I tried to talk to SDO the other day. You see, the economy is bad and I don't have a job. And I'm a 3L! Basically, I've got the blues: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RyQwvmTC40
do you think she wants an 1L intern? i would gladly give up my firm job to work for her.
*sends resume off to 1 first street*
-nervous T-10 1L
soon to be nervous SCOTUS intern?!?!
Goddamn nervous T10, you are not funny or insightful. Just stop!
13:
:(
*pretends to cry, slips resume in 13's pocket when he comes over to console me*
-nervous T-10 1L
soon to be nervous 1L sa
Even though she overrode our country's bedrock democracy to install an evil and stupid man whose rule led to the deaths of thousands and perhaps the downfall of America, I still love to hear from Sandra Day.
I never found T-10 1L funny either, in fact I find him down right annoying, but 14 above made me "lol" for the first time in weeks.
Bravo.
14 = hilarious
3 - That's true. Scalia was on PBS, and Thomas was on ABC.
But those tend to be one-time things, as opposed to doing the whole talk-show circuit.
I like her, but she is arrogant about the courts. She seems to think we should not even question what they're up to and whether it is true to the Constitution. I, like many, many others, think the judicial branch has overstepped its boundaries.
STEWART is an idiot-turned-"commentator" not unlike the sportscaster-turned-"commentator" Oberman.
I'm embarrassed for them. Their followers might as well wear shirts that read "I'm dumb."
What's "the elect"?
Thanks for the new hotlink (to define the Elect), but was I supposed to know this? As far as I can tell, "Underneath their robes" is a five-year old blog that's now defunct written by a really shrill obsessed girl. Sorry for being a silly law student.
-21
...and the woman continues to be a disgrace to our judiciary. Gawd, what an ignorant bitch.
I was at the taping (complete but super awesome coincidence that I happened to have tickets for that day) and after the show, John Stewart's comment was "how adorable is Justice O'Connor?" Yes, yes she was. Like a spunky old grandma.
...and the woman continues to be a disgrace to our judiciary. Gawd, what an ignorant bitch.
Completely agree.
Rumour is Rick Mercer is going to interview Beverley McLachlin. Can someone confirm?
-Bay Street is Awesome!
Go back to Osgoode Hall you lame-ass Canuck.