JOHN KERRY SAID, "THE SUPREME COURT OF THE
UNITED STATES IS AT STAKE IN THIS RACE"

When the American people go to the polls next Tuesday they will not only be deciding who will be the next President. They will also be deciding who will be nominated to the Supreme Court in the event that vacancies occur.

CNN reports that "Chief Justice William Rehnquist has undergone throat surgery after a diagnosis of thyroid cancer" (cnn.com, 10/25/04). "Rehnquist is one of the most conservative members of the closely divided court. The news of his health problems is likely to shake up the campaign trail because the next president could help tip the balance on the nation's highest court Senator John Kerry pointed to Bush's previous comments that he wanted 'conservative' judges and to the president's appointment of conservatives to key judicial posts" [Kerry said] "The Supreme Court of the United States is at stake in this race" (CNN, ibid.).

Here is a section of the second presidential debate, given on October 8, 2004. Senator Kerry said,

"A few years ago when he came to office, the president said - these are his words - 'What we need are some good conservative judges on the courts.' And he said also that his two favorite justices are Justice Scalia and Justice Thomas. So you get a pretty good sense of where he's heading if he were to appoint somebody" (The Second Bush-Kerry Presidential Debate, www.debates.org/pages/trans2004c_p.html).

Whatever our views are on judicial matters, I'm sure that most people will agree with Senator Kerry that, next Tuesday, "The Supreme Court of the United States is at stake" Each of us will have different reactions to the above information. But most of us, whatever our persuasion, will agree that it is important for all Americans to participate in the democratic process by voting.