Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/supreme-court-nominations-with-a-little-humor

Comment #1313

2009-05-21T12:24:17Z

It is especially interesting to look at this map which shows a few more legal systems, like sharia law.

Also to note the French (Napoleonic) influence in Louisiana, and of course Quebec. And those independent Scots!

Comment #1312

2009-05-21T00:30:32Z

I see a great deal of British influence on that map.

Comment #1311

2009-05-21T00:28:33Z

Cool. It did.

Comment #1310

2009-05-21T00:28:05Z

I think it's because only certain html is allowed.

If I managed to change the setting, this part will be in blockquote.
Did it work?

Comment #1309

2009-05-20T20:10:32Z

Ok, the middle paragraph above ought to be a blockquote, but that obviously doesn't do much to set it apart as a quote. Now it looks like I plagiarized...

Comment #1308

2009-05-20T20:08:59Z

Wikipedia has a lengthy article on common law, but the salient point is the short paragraph on the difference between common law and civil law:

This connotation differentiates "common law" jurisdictions and legal systems from "civil law" or "code" jurisdictions. Common law systems place great weight on court decisions, which are considered "law" with the same force of law as statutes. By contrast, in civil law jurisdictions (the legal tradition that prevails in, or is combined with common law in, almost all non-Islamic, non-common law countries), judicial precedent is given relatively less weight, and scholarly literature is given relatively more. For example, the Napoleonic code expressly forbade French judges from pronouncing the law.

The map of countries with common law jurisdiction is also instructive.

Comment #1307

2009-05-20T19:50:15Z

Okay,I'll bite. Would you please explain further?

Comment #1306

2009-05-20T18:56:12Z

We wouldn't have to worry about the MOTSCOTUS so much if we had a civil law legal system...

Comment #1305

2009-05-20T13:36:37Z

And I guess the trouble is that it seems that constructionist judges are now only picked by conservatives for the most part. And Obama has explicitly stated that he will not pick constructionist judges, but only ones that will decide cases the way he wants.

And somehow no one has been complaining about that - at least not that I've seen, which I suppose isn't saying much.

Comment #1304

2009-05-18T23:02:26Z

Thanks, Stephan. I seem to know a few names, but not with a great deal of certainty as to whether or not they're serving presently. Though I'm pretty sure John Jay is dead....

Comment #1303

2009-05-18T19:41:10Z

Since for once I'm pretty average, here's a link for me to look up the members: Members of the Supreme Court of the United States. Is MOTSCOTUS used for these fellas?