Who is your favorite Supreme Court Justice?

[KaiserDave]

I'm a big fan of Stephen Breyer. I like his eye to pragmatism and eye to the effects of SCOTUS decisions. Even when Ginsburg was on the court, who I consider brilliant, I think Breyer was probably in some ways still my favorite justice.

Who is yours?

(if this is better in Individual Politics, please move )

[brucejoel99]

I'm a big fan of Stephen Breyer. I like his eye to pragmatism and eye to the effects of SCOTUS decisions. Even when Ginsburg was on the court, who I consider brilliant, I think Breyer was probably in some ways still my favorite justice.

I love that Breyer simultaneously seems like he's both not taking it too seriously & yet taking it very seriously at the same time. Plus, he's low-key hilarious. I can't help but think that not only was the flush him, but that he knew exactly what he was doing.

[Calthrina950]

It's hard for me to say, but the three Justices that I have the greatest regard for are Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, and Neil Gorsuch.

[Donerail]

Sotomayor is the only one who is consistently correct. Kagan is fine but strangely formalistic in her reasoning in a way that I think occasionally removes her from the practical impacts of the case, while Breyer is extraordinarily bad on the rights of criminal defendants.

[𝕭𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖆 𝕸𝖎𝖓𝖔𝖑𝖆]

Hugo Black.

[Vosem]

Gorsuch very narrowly over Thomas at the moment, but it changes depending on whose opinions I've read more recently. Big gap between the two of them and everyone else.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Sotomayor easily.

[KoopaDaQuick 🇵🇸]

Sotomayor by far, and she was a close second place to RBG back when she was still alive. Glad to see nobody voted Kavanaugh.

[President Johnson]

Stephen Breyer. A pragmatic, moderate to liberal judge. I think he was my favorite even before RBG died.

Overall favorite: Earl Warren.

[MarkD]

I don't have a favorite from the current Justices. In terms of who has been serving on the Court in the last 49 years, I guess John Paul Stevens is my favorite. But of all the Justices of all time:

Hugo Black.

[Sprouts Farmers Market ✘]

[1] Brett Kavanagh
[2] Samuel Alito

[3] Clarence Thomas
[4] Sonia Sotomayor

[5] John Roberts
[6] Stephen Breyer

[7] Neil Gorsuch

[8] Elena Kagan

[100% pro-life no matter what]

1. Clarence Thomas
2. Samuel Alito
3. Neil Gorsuch
4. Brett Kavanaugh
5. John Roberts
6. Stephen Breyer
7. Elena Kagan
8. Sonia Sotomayor

Amy Coney Barrett would probably start at #2, but could easily move from there.

[OSR stands with Israel]

Gorsuch very narrowly over Thomas at the moment, but it changes depending on whose opinions I've read more recently. Big gap between the two of them and everyone else.

Pretty much this

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I like Gorsuch of the current crew and sometimes Thomas.

[Del Tachi]

Breyer and Thomas

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Breyer and Thomas

Huh? Explain...

[Del Tachi]

Breyer and Thomas

Huh? Explain...

When Thomas hits he's on-point, and his style of writing is the most approachable to a non-jurist like myself (Thomas himself was only a judge for 18 months before being appointed to SCOTUS).  Breyer's legal approach primarily revolves around more functional or practical concerns, which is a nice reprieve given how much more ideologically-animated the Court has recently become.

I'm not so much of a partisan hack.  I can admire qualities of both liberal and conservative jurisprudence.

[Starry Eyed Jagaloon]

Breyer and Thomas

Huh? Explain...

When Thomas hits he's on-point, and his style of writing is the most approachable to a non-jurist like myself (Thomas himself was only a judge for 18 months before being appointed to SCOTUS).  Breyer's legal approach primarily revolves around more functional or practical concerns, which is a nice reprieve given how much more ideologically-animated the Court has recently become.

I'm not so much of a partisan hack.  I can admire qualities of both liberal and conservative jurisprudence.

Oh it's not that. They just seem like weird choices from either end of the spectrum. I think the best thinkers on the right are clearly Gorsuch and Roberts (not even because they're more likely to swing, but because they have a more coherent and smart philosophy than Alito/Thomas/Kavanaugh. Scalia would have belonged in this group as well.) Breyer I get, but him+Thomas just seems like a weird pairing. Frankly, I'd have thought you'd prefer Kagan.

[KaiserDave]

Breyer and Thomas

Huh? Explain...

When Thomas hits he's on-point, and his style of writing is the most approachable to a non-jurist like myself (Thomas himself was only a judge for 18 months before being appointed to SCOTUS).  Breyer's legal approach primarily revolves around more functional or practical concerns, which is a nice reprieve given how much more ideologically-animated the Court has recently become.

I'm not so much of a partisan hack.  I can admire qualities of both liberal and conservative jurisprudence.

I quite agree. Hence my recommendation of that quoted post of yours.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Sotomayor and Gorsuch, because

I'm not so much of a partisan hack.  I can admire qualities of both liberal and conservative jurisprudence.

[Skill and Chance]

Sotomayor and Gorsuch, because

I'm not so much of a partisan hack.  I can admire qualities of both liberal and conservative jurisprudence.

This.  Look out for the vulnerable whenever possible (Sotomayor) but always respect ancient rights (Gorsuch).

I don't get all the love for Breyer here.  "When in doubt, let the government do whatever it wants because pragmatism" is basically the antithesis of the US constitutional system.  And the same critique applies to Thomas if you replace government with "states."

[Kingpoleon]

Neil Gorsuch is perhaps the sole positive thing from Trump’s presidency, and certainly the best. I wish Trump had nominated someone more in his mood than Barrett.

[Fuzzy Says: "Abolish NPR!"]

Gorsuch is the most objective Justice on the Court, so he's my fave.

[Senator Incitatus]

[1] Thomas

[2] Kagan

[3] Sotomayor

[4] Alito

[5] Gorsuch

[6] Roberts

[7] Kavanaugh

[8] Breyer

[sparkey]

I look for justices who are strong on the Bill of Rights from start to finish. That includes taking seriously its dictate that rights are expansive (9th) and powers are limited (10th). Unfortunately, it's very common for many justices to fall into the trap of picking and choosing when to be strong and when to be excessively deferential in a pattern that (surprise!) matches the legislative goals of their respective political parties. And too often, "moderate" judges will almost exclusively break with their party in ways to become weaker on the Bill of Rights.

That's why I'm happiest with what I've seen from Gorsuch. He's not only principled in a way that I expect a Republican appointee to be, but when he breaks from party lines, it's usually in ways that Republicans are bad.

I struggle to see a counterpart among Democratic appointees, but I will say that Sotomayor still manages to be my favorite, because she's often very good in the ways that Democrats are good.