Justice Breyer Says SCOTUS Risks Creating “A Constitution That No One Wants” | Amanpour and Company

[@louiselloyd1523]

separation of Church vs State is SO important. It's frightening what is happening in the US these days.

[@t.a.k.palfrey3882]

It is ironic that countries which do not specify this division of church and state, or even have state subsidy of churches, find that churches have less influence than in the US, where religion is part and parcel of political debate. In Germany, Sweden, the UK, and elsewhere, only very rarely does a candidate for election even mention religious beliefs. Yet, in these countries religion is taught in schools, and in England there is a state religion.

[@kevinjenner9502]

AIPAC

[@grahamjones5400]

Religious ideologies should to restricted to religious people's homes and temples, no exceptions

[@expletivedeleted]

Religo-mythology...the root of evil, taught the people that the ends justify the means. The original sin.

[@expletivedeleted]

@@grahamjones5400 Behind closed doors like all perversions!

[@garychap8384]

Wow, I like Justice Breyer... what an incredible speaker. This is the kind of patience, compassion and intellect you should demand from members of the SCOTUS. Big love to Justice Breyer from the UK o/ o/ o/

[@louise_rose]

The decision on expanded legal immunity for the POTUS, with very vague limits (even reaching before and after his term in office), this summer, was disastrous - it will need to be revisited in the future. In effect it meant two things 1) POTUS or ex-POTUS is placed three-quarters above the Law, or at any rate out of reach for the Law. 2) Any serious criminal case involving POTUS or ex-POTUS as a defendant should ultimately only be decided by the Supreme Court (unless POTUS is fully acquitted on a lower level). This idea that SCOTUS are the only ones who can or should get to truly pass judgment on the President, in a criminal case, is deeply flawed. It's feudal, making POTUS into some kind of King.

[@peterbathum2775]

The SCOTUS created an oligarchy here since 2010 Citizens United. It’s why they receive so many expensive gifts; the few we know of..

[@jsnumber7]

SCOTUS has been deeply corrupt for centuries. Read the "railroad" cases... you'll see for yourself. The whole thing's a stinking joke.

[@Reflectiveness]

Well put.

[@BruderAdrian]

True. They think they slick too

[@shannonbarber6161]

Don't be daft. Hillary spent over $2B and associations spent another $1B+ on her campaign and she lost to Trump who spent hundreds-of-millions. If you still think Citizens United is a major issue then you do not live in the real world. Democrats are not losing because Republicans have/spend more money. Democrats are losing because their policies range from unethical to crimes-against-humanity. If you still support then in 2024 there is something very wrong with you and you are not a good person; you are disturbed or brainwashed or both.

[@SecularFelinist]

Been that way for far longer. When SCOTUS ruled against Henry Ford in a case about profit sharing vs shareholder dividends, and found a business exists to make money for shareholders instead of the workers who create that wealth.

[@RusTsea196T]

SCOTUS basically took White-Out to Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment already, scribbling in over it "whatever gets us the politics we prefer".

[@kenwalker687]

What the court said, in Roe vs Wade that the States or US government must pass laws allowing abortion. (The clause: "Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness & others) does not apply for abortion We have had (60) years to resolve this issue and only some States addressed abortion. The rest slept and trusted SCOTUS Roe vs Wade would stand forever, a political decision.

[@Toaster-v1z]

The Emoluments clause is no longer enforced also. It is actually called "phoney" and the courts agree.

[@dianewhite4065]

Exactly

[@billy6427]

This is the Number ONE issue for me. They essentially said A Tyrant CAN run at the National Level but NOT at the State level.... That doesn't make sense, since a Tyrant can do Greater damage at the National Level.

[@FJB2468]

Nobody as corrupt, lawless and deceitful than Democrats. You people are a disgrace.

[@keithrodgers1030]

The separation of faith from politics and law exists for a reason. It exists to prevent a very small minority of religious believers imposing their belief systems on everybody else. We cannot have faiths determining laws, way too many faiths it would be chaos.

[@MossyMozart]

@keithrodgers1030 - Also, religious beliefs cannot be quantified and tested like science and laws can.

[@whooley8782]

Yeah really! How are we gonna deal with the snake handlers who want to push their beliefs onto the rest of us.

[@janetritchie7499]

And yet half of the SCOTUS Justices are Roman Catholic. Alito, Thomas, Roberts, Kavanaugh, Coney-Barrett. All of those listed are also Republicans.

[@katem.8816]

And any one “recognized” religion would definitely be punitive to all the other religions. The founders knew that. - A couple days ago in the AZ capitol there were state reps kneeling on the floor in a circle with behinds in the air “speaking in tongues” praying after they allowed the bill from the 1860’s to stand, restricting women’s choice. Praying or babbling it looked Terrible! I believe they should be removed for that personal religious display. It was on the Drudge Report - you can find it on KZbin. They were not working for their citizens of AZ. That was clear. They had their own religious minds made up.

[@danjohnson6800]

The same words can say either way, saying the intent of Meine Kampf, or Martin Luther King’s great speeches. Of course you have to sense, summon the spirit of human freedom over the millennia and apply reason to determine what laws will work now. Cutting off this spirit is an intention to take away rights, from the outset.

[@tomsaxton970]

What an awesome man that demonstrates that age doesn't necessarily affect intelect. I love listening to him speak.

[@beckyhenkel7917]

He is the judge who qualified to be a judge!

[@williamryder5021]

💯

[@willmont8258]

@@beckyhenkel7917 Then why does he get so much wrong?

[@beckyhenkel7917]

@@willmont8258 God gave us individual heads, to think for ourselves.

[@willmont8258]

@@beckyhenkel7917 But he doesn't get to rewrite the Constitution to match up with what he wants and thinks it should say.

[@meidassecondsoprano150]

It’s painful for me to be reminded of what a wonderful Justice we have lost when Justice Breyer retired

[@doreeneclose6295]

They were once truly the best and brightest, both sides, with impeccable standards. They are now political hacks of the highest order, getting whatever quid pro quo that they can out of the job. We are in deep trouble as a republic.

[@dahwheelone6620]

he retired so another younger progressive judge could takeover, Unfortunately RBG did not retire and the court became unbalanced

[@Anna-uu2fw]

But he's still here😊

[@celiabassols]

Wouldn't it be nice if each Congress member was required to see this and write an essay on what they learned, entitled, How to Construct a Working Social Contract.

[@shannonbarber6161]

Every Democrat and 99% of Republicans would fail. The only contract that is ethical is NAP.

[@grahammorgan3858]

Dream on😊

[@sereanaduwai8313]

You asking for the impossible. Can you imagine Taylor Green writing an essay?

[@DaveT383]

​@@sereanaduwai8313😂

[@georgesheffield1580]

Some might have to learn to read and write . All would have to learn to thing logically .

[@takethecakedublin]

I really like Justice Breyer. I could watch and listen to him for hours.

[@jfree2737]

When the Constitution was being written, a rifle or pistol could only fire one bullet at a time. You had to take the time to get out your gun powder, fill it into the gun, tamp it down, load a bullet and (in many cases) light a fuse. In other words, it took a fair amount of time to fire a gun. If the Founders were told that there was a weapon capable of firing bullets as fast as a finger could pull a trigger, I highly doubt that they would have wanted everyone to have one without condition. It would be the equivalent of saying that anyone has the right to own a nuke today. Especially since they didn't even trust everyone to vote; only white men who owned land. That right there says everything about how much they trusted in the judgement and intelligence of the average citizen. Historical context informs the intent behind constitutional law. You have to look at the spirit as well as the letter of the law to a certain extent. That being said, we shouldn't be afraid to make changes to the Constitution. It's not a holy document written in stone (thus the amendments). Laws need to evolve and change in step with society. It used to be legal to cut off someone's hand for stealing. There are a lot of things that are now legal/illegal because of how society's views have changed. A quote that I heard from Beau of the Fifth Column is "tradition is peer pressure from dead people." There's quite a bit of truth to that statement.

[@charliehammer8780]

_"When the Constitution was being written, a rifle or pistol could only fire one bullet at a time. You had to take the time to get out your gun powder, fill it into the gun, tamp it down, load a bullet and (in many cases) light a fuse. In other words, it took a fair amount of time to fire a gun."_ When the constitution was written they had printing presses that required each page to be manually set and then pressed upon sheets of paper by hand and then compiled, by hand, into a book, newspaper or pamphlet. It was time consuming and costly. And if you wanted to send these periodicals to someone you had to load them onto a dispatch rider which would take considerable time to get to its eventual destination. I hope you can see where I'm going with this? 😉 _"If the Founders were told that there was a weapon capable of firing bullets as fast as a finger could pull a trigger, I highly doubt that they would have wanted everyone to have one without condition."_ Ohh but they *_were_* told that there were weapons capable of firing bullets in a rapid fashion! But you don't have to take my word for that all you have to do is search for these terms... "Puckle Gun", "Ghirandoni Rifle", "Duckfoot Pistol", "Nock Volley Gun" and "Cookson Repeater" and see for yourself just what kind of rapid fire weaponry was available to them at the time. Maybe This is why they said "the right of the people to keep and bear *arms"* and not "the right of the people to keep and bear *muskets"?* Our founding fathers were some of the most enlightened thinkers of their time, I am certain that they fully understood that the weapons of our time would be *_far more advanced and powerful_* than the weapons that they had. Just as their weapons were more advanced and powerful than *_their_* great grandfathers weapons. Sorry but your opinion about the intent of our founding fathers does not match reality.

[@jfree2737]

@@charliehammer8780 It seems like you got hung up on the gun example and failed to understand the overarching theme of my statement (context, intent, and change when necessary) Don't worry though, I knew someone would.☺️

[@charliehammer8780]

@@jfree2737 Well the "gun example" that I provided proves that your idea about the "intent" of the founding fathers in regards to guns that could fire rapidly, like the kind we have today, is completely wishful thinking on your part. If they had AR15's or M16's in their day they _would_ have used them. Gleefully.

[@sarahchristine2345]

⁠@@charliehammer8780 Translation: I think they would’ve considered advancing technology and gladly used modern weapons so therefore you’ve been definitively proven wrong because my opinion is just so much better than yours… 🙄🙄🙄 that’s quite the ego you got there… Cue sexist comment in 3…2…1

[@charliehammer8780]

@@sarahchristine2345 I have abundantly proven that this ridiculous idea that our founding fathers somehow had no clue that weapons of the future would be far more powerful than theirs is based in fantasy. Nothing in their writings or the history of this country support that insane hypothesis. It is revisionist history at its worst. Face it, the history of this country is the history of the gun. Our freedoms were *obtained* by the gun and they will be *maintained* by the gun *_far_* into the future. And I'm sorry to break this to you but yes, that does indeed mean military style weapons like the AR15 in the possession of the common citizenry. If you don't like this fact, you are free to move to any of the hundreds of countries around the world that do not have Second Amendment protections for their citizens. Don't let the door hit you where the good Lord split you on the way out Sarah. 😉

[@hectorcruz3337]

When you think US is beyond saving, such a voice brings hope. This man is a treasure. Increase the number of Justices; with people like him!

[@willmont8258]

He doesn't want to uphold the US Constitution. He wants to rewrite it to get what he wants out of it.

[@iv2sab512]

Unfortunately, many of the current Justices were appointed by presidents who didn't win the popular vote.

[@AlexisPage-vu]

When a man of the intellect and compassion of Justice Breyer presents his opinions with such clarity, reason, and understanding, it is very easy for me to take what he says and immediately incorporate it into my philosophy of life (as it should be) without any further analysis. He has done all of the essential thinking for me. I would love to find one person in each field of human endeavor to do the same. I should become very wise, indeed.

[@willmont8258]

Never allow others to think for you. Think for yourself.

[@thagomizer4711]

Lack of analysis != wisdom

[@Tick421]

After four years of Biden, I forgot old people could sound smart

[@jkotsche7035]

Breyer is talking about common sense and the greater good.

[@r8chlletters]

Things must really be bad for him to speak publicly like this. The last few appointees are idiots with dubious connections or credentials and now several have been found to work despite clear conflicts of interest. It’s disheartening and just another reason to terms with limits and perhaps a larger group with more aggregate outcomes.

[@peggyrunyon4230]

Very wise man,to bad more judges are not like him,we would be in a much greater place.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

He's talking "common nonsense"

[@zackf3688]

I dont know about the "greater good" but he is certainly following his conscious and deep legal understanding.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

@@zackf3688 when he was the decenting judge in Heller that means the rest of the Supreme Court said his opinion was wrong.

[@PJJTremblay]

Thank you Justice Breyer!!

[@peace8373]

The constitution clearly states it is written for "We the People." To give corporation my rights, is just a plain misinterpretation of the constitution.

[@willmont8258]

The people who own those corporations have rights, and they can exercise those rights through those corporations just like they can as individuals. The Bill of Rights applies to to both.

[@peace8373]

@@willmont8258 no one is taking away the rights of individual owners it is the collective to have limited liability of a corporation that is the problem. If a corporation has limited liability why do I not have the same rights.

[@willmont8258]

@@peace8373 Giving corporations limited liability is not because of the Constitution, but because the legislature has created laws to do so. But that has nothing to do with the SC ruling that corporations have rights like freedom of the press. Does freedom of the press apply to the New York Times? That is a corporation .

[@itsajahthing]

​@@willmont8258 Corporations are only a fraction of the people they are not 'we the people' and should not be dictating laws for all...

[@Mobil3targ3t]

​@willmont8258 the people who own those corporations already have representation. Letting them use a corporation and more importantly making that corporation equivalent to an actual person gives the owner additional influence. It's double dipping.

[@JBCanCon]

I could listen to this guy talk all day. How can anyone disagree?

[@thelakeman5207]

Any SCOTUS nominee should be held to their answers when going thru the nomination process. If they oppose abortion, tell us. If they oppose the 2nd Amendment, say so. If you lie, you should lose your job. Just like the rest of us.

[@DailyMindBrew]

They can disagree based on the cash Harlan Crow gives them

[@billhuff131]

If a private company decided it wanted your property for a mall or resort and had your home taken from you under imminent domain sanctioned by the government to increase a tax base you might not feel so positive to his way of thinking about an individuals rights.

[@BN-hy1nd]

I would have loved to hear his opinion on the delaying tactics used by SCOTUS

[@johnnybgoode8104]

he won't say because he considers a SCOTUS just former and he's clutching to the old image of the SCOTUS. he doesn't want to talk bad about his old job. He has declined to say things in the recent past. He shields their behavior by not calling it out. Weak complicity

[@MossyMozart]

@@johnnybgoode8104 - He seemed quite scathing in this interview to me, albeit in a classy way.

[@davidcwitkin6729]

I have a feeling he would be appalled

[@gamtngirl3655]

Love and respect for Justice Breyer.

[@benpaholke3922]

This is probably the best interview of Justice Bryer about his new book. Love the interviewer here. Good job.

[@cocofluff]

You must be young. Amanpour is a legend. It annoys me how mainstream News channels let these senior reporters go because of age and replace them with young nitwits who can't ask relevant, probing questions.

[@randibgood]

​@@cocofluff That MAN interviewing Justice Bryer is NOT Christian Amanpour.

[@MossyMozart]

@@randibgood - But Walter Isaacson was chosen by Ms Amanpour for the show.

[@janetritchie7499]

I am going to buy his book asap. Breyer is fascinating to listen to.

[@kitkatkrissy]

It doesn't matter how judges interpret a constitution in this day and age when so many, not just SCOTUS, are in the pockets of wealthy benefactors and corporations.

[@MossyMozart]

@kitkatkrissy - But that is exactly WHY we need justices who can interpret the Constitution intelligently and fairly, without bribery and other corruptions. And we need Justice Ginni booted off the Court!

[@DeepFleeceheart]

​@MossyMozart this is why we need term limits.

[@davidcwitkin6729]

Exactly. Why are none of the retired justices calling out the disgusting corruption of the justices on today's Court?

[@FreeSpiritinLightandLove]

@@DeepFleeceheart I don’t think term limits would solve the problem. Experience is valuable in both Congress and the Supreme Court. Corruption is not. The SC needs to be held accountable to basic ethics with clear guidelines. Politics should not matter and Justices should be held accountable by Congress through a special prosecutor. Members of Congress should be too busy to conduct a thorough investigation. I dream on.

[@mickey1849]

I decided to leave a comment here because I think what many of us see and are concerned about is the seeking of wealth and luxury by members of the Court, which--in this narrow sense of which I am speaking here--makes it increasingly difficult to differentiate between them and the other two branches of government. While the justices themselves may only be accepting lavish gifts, such as expensive cruises to Alaska or a weekend at some exclusive hunt club, their spouses often round out the extravagance by making obscene amounts of money because their husband/wife is a member of the Court. Term limits seem to be the only viable answer.

[@siggybenedict-shields3883]

Justice Breyer is the kind of justice that is needed. Intelligent arguments and solid reasoning are such a breath of fresh air amid the cacophony of unfit people. Thank you.

[@atrociousliar3314]

An American with nuance and intelligence taking a balanced view. Holy shit! He is an endangered species.

[@annmarieknapp]

Protect this fellow at all costs.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

Intrest balancing means finding excuses to justify the government stripping away the rights of the people. The bill of rights doesn't give the people their rights the bill of rights is there to explain what the government doesn't have authority to mess with.

[@paulpease8254]

@@annmarieknapphe’s retired, so his impact is greatly diminished.

[@paulpease8254]

@@Sarcasmarkusgo join a militia, a well-regulated one, then.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

@@paulpease8254 “I ask who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers.” -George Mason, June 4, 1788, Address to the Virginia Ratifying Convention

[@annmariecassani8388]

What an intelligent, measured, well-spoken man! A man who uses actual reason! Too bad 6/9 current justices on the supreme court can't be so smart!

[@annmarieknapp]

Yes, and the three dolts lied about not overturning Roe. They should be disqualified. I especially resent Clarence Thomas. What a POS. I have no respect for SCOTUS now. Zero faith in their clearly partisan judgement. We need to vote blue all the way down the line. Get house and Senate to both be blue and force a Roe law as legislation as law of the land ending this red state bullshit. They won't stop with abortion. They will come for birth control, women's rights, and voting. This country wants to enforce an old dark twisted version of a right-wing Draconian 1950's mentality with women as no more than servants or walking incubators. Women now you must not only vote blue all the way down the line and get yourself a weapon and become a good shot to protect yourself. In the red states that have declared war on women seem to forget they love their guns and guess what so should women.

[@whooley8782]

@annmariecassani8388 I'd love to know his real opinion of those 6.

[@davidcwitkin6729]

They're smart, they're just trash.

[@willmont8258]

Breyer is the one who isn't so smart.

[@PerryMarshallScott]

@@willmont8258 : Do you assume yourself to be smarter ? Thrill us with your acumen and surpassing brilliance.

[@dennisemaracle2475]

I prefer Justice Breyer's way of thinking and wish he were still on the court now.

[@magouliana32]

What argument exactly are you referring to because he sounds incoherent.

[@no-barknoonan1335]

@@magouliana32 What incoherence exactly are you referring to because he sounds thoughtful.

[@AreYouSerious-210g]

@@magouliana32 Justice Breyer made lucid arguments against interpreting the Constitution on the basis of originalism / textualism. Please provide support for your claim that he was incoherent. -Gary Be well, be kind, and lead a good life

[@magouliana32]

@@no-barknoonan1335 he argues that textualism and originality should be over looked by the SC, this is the reason we have the Supreme Court. He argues the Supreme Court should look at the purpose the laws were made instead, this is subjective and will lead to chaos. Then he says discrimination is good if it brings people together 😧. There’s more it’s chock full of baloney.

[@davidclark573]

Six of the justices were picked by Koch John Birch foundations.

[@paulrouth5997]

Justice Breyer is nothing short of brilliant, an amazing advocate for common sense. Have to wonder why it's called 'common sense' when so few SCJs of today's current Supreme Court, and politicians seem to have it.

[@marciasmall2193]

I loved listening to this interview with Justice Breyer.

[@albertulrich4958]

Where's the corruption question of the current Supreme Court? Are YOU alive or dumb?

[@mercy3219]

I so wish we had Justice Breyer on SCOTUS! Thank you for a thoughtful and inspired read on the subject of the Supreme Court!

[@suedavis3525]

He retired at the right time unlike Bader-Ginsberg.

[@aliceputt3133]

Actually we need him now. I wish he would not have retired.

[@mercy3219]

@@suedavis3525 I question the "Life-time Appointments" set forth in the Constitution. At the time, the average lifespan for the US population was estimated at 34.5 years of age (several references on Google). The youngest Justices starting with President Washington's election was 32 years old. While President Washington did live into his 50s, I cannot imagine it was ever intended a Supreme Court (or Federal Justice) would be in office for several decades! When I read the provisions for these Justices, the intention was to insulate them from the process of re-running for office which would make it a politicized position. We seemed to have run right through that stop sign!🛑 Time for term limits with a pension of sorts after so many years, then they can go write books, teach, or whatever seems appropriate to the time!😉🥰

[@phoebeflanders]

He refuses to make these points in any wide-spread or popular forum.

[@benzado]

@@mercy3219When average lifespan was so low, it was because a lot of children died, skewing the average down to 34. But people who lived to adulthood routinely lived into their 70s, especially if they had a comfortable lifestyle like a Supreme Court judge would.

[@fredericrike5974]

Justice Breyer needs to be let out more often. I affirm his choice to retire, but he was the beating heart of the People's Constitution- still is. God Bless, Stephen.

[@mickey1849]

So nice of you to "affirm" his choice to retire 🙄

[@leafyveins4985]

See here at the above comment, below OP's, we see a perfect example of celebrated ignorance. The OP used the word "affirm" and someone responded to mock them just for using that interesting word. This is a perfect example of little things that add up in America that make us afraid to be intelligent. And it's not really Commenter's fault either, but they're perpetuating the problem.

[@karebear9773]

What a brilliant man and justice.

[@DarkStar-x7x]

When I listen to Luttig and Breyer, even Glenn Kirschner, it’s clear, at least in our not so distant passed, that we had sanity and rational thought sitting on the courts, or operating therein. Given what I see today, I wonder how we got so far a field.

[@dondon6655]

How did we get so far a field? Mitch McConnell.

[@sherrygadberryturner9527]

When we allowed Bush to steal Gore’s election. 🤬

[@kevinking8222]

The right spent a generation radicalizing the Court. McConnell was the end of a long project.

[@gaywizard2000]

Past not passed😂

[@DarkStar-x7x]

@@gaywizard2000 💯😋

[@drbettyschueler3235]

What a fantastic mind Judge Breyer has. We were so lucky to have him as a justice.

[@tofu_golem]

At this point, I think the most useful thing America can do is to serve as a warning to others.

[@davidcwitkin6729]

Sadly, you are correct

[@davidmollenhauer7580]

Get out all your non-political nerd friends to vote this November…after watching ALL the new campaign ads.

[@wisconsinfarmer4742]

Germany and Japan already did theirs. guess it has to happen.

[@thagomizer4711]

Oh we’re a warning for the rest of the world for sure

[@adriancollette7010]

True. Our system has failed. We are a footnote in history.

[@davidmollenhauer7580]

A brilliant, extremely wise and wonderful mind. Thanks for interviewing Stephen Breyer.

[@chrishedlund2688]

So glad this wise man shares his wisdom with us. I hope we all take the time to consider his words

[@delangelservices2283]

He has the most soothing voice. He should record audiobooks!

[@albertulrich4958]

Must have put you to sleep, eh? Where's the Clarence Thomas taking millions of $$$$$$$ to rule on cases before him/them question? Ethics rules, please!!!!!! JJJJeeeez,. Then U wonder why the state this countries in

[@cocofluff]

🤣 That's what you took away from this interview?

[@gaywizard2000]

I thought that too! Justice Bryer sleep app.

[@RebekahCurielAlessi]

Soul touching.

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

"If they're so clear, why are they in the Supreme Court?" Nowadays, it's because activists with connections want that law, the institution it empowers, or longstanding legal precedent declared unconstitutional. This isn't how it's supposed to work, but SCOTUS is granting cert to these cases, so apparently we're doing this now.

[@debbiealmon7571]

What a great justice with exceptional honor and truth! Wow! How our present SCOTUS has fallen in their truth and values, shameful and so very sad!! 😢

[@thorenjohn]

Thank you so much for this interview, both. There is so much level-headed, sensible value in what Justice Breyer is saying, with good questions by Mr. Isaacson. The contrast between this and the twisted mumbo-jumbo of the immunity decision is stark.

[@dsthorp]

Justice Breyer's responses each deserve a pause.

[@diannabryzicki7111]

Justice Breyer is a treasure.

[@davidcwitkin6729]

Too bad he's retired.

[@freedomfighterletsgobrandon]

No, he is not. Good riddance.

[@dplouro]

I’m flabbergasted with so much knowledge. Thank you

[@distractionb]

Thank you Justice Breyer

[@Tedisntakidanymore]

From the first day of law school, students are taught respect for the judiciary. I've tried cases for over 30 years. During that time, I've never questioned any judge's partiality. Sadly, within the last few years, I've gradually lost all respect for the maga majority on the S Ct, and I have nothing but suspicion for all trump appointees.

[@jsnumber7]

From my first day of conlaw, John Marshall's bullshit provided me with nothing but suspicion regarding the integrity of the whole damn system. After 30 years, I'm now sure its's all just pure bullshit. When you start with ego-based self-serving lies, that's all you ever have. (Marshall should have simply recused, as he was the one who started the whole problem over which he then sat in review, but noooo.) And from this, this, we get the principles of judicial review? Arising from an unmandated, illegally drafted "constitution:" that was created in sworn secrecy by the oligarchs of the day, that overthrew the legitimate government that existed at the time? What unsustainable crap. The entire society should be ashamed.

[@willmont8258]

Yet those MAGA judges on the SC are closer to the true intentions and meaning of the US Constitution than ever before. You sound like someone who just wants to find a way around the Constitution because you don't like what it says.

[@willmont8258]

In other words, you never questioned a judge as long as you got the outcome you wanted. But now that you don't get the outcomes you want, suddenly you "lost respect".

[@AnnaSzczepanik-p4d]

Maybe just maybe she doesn't have to be disappointed at judges because they follow the law.. She had reason to say so and you have no reason to judged her.​@willmont8258

[@thelakeman5207]

Someday, we will all realize that 2024 was a turning point for America. We just don't know which way it'll turn, yet.

[@111Phoenix777]

What I worry about are judges becoming preoccupied with what was originally meant in a law while the house is burning down. In my opinion, they have a duty to look out for the best interests of this country. They can't just make it effectively legal to bribe government officials because they don't want to overstep their authority. It's their job to stand.

[@paulthomas963]

That explicitly, constitutionally IS NOT their job. If we want the constitution changed we can change it. I don't understand why if Democrats really believe 70-80% of the public agrees with them they don't spearhead a constitutional amendment to make abortion a constitutional right or guns NOT a right. That's how democracy works.

[@GeorgeEdmond-i8z]

Wow! What a breath of fresh air. Thank you.

[@elizabethwalsh3417]

Thank you Justice❤

[@susan174]

Excellent.

[@T-41]

Awesome interview

[@waydesorensen3623]

I pray SCOTUS is listening to what justice Breyer is saying. Current SCOTUS is looking foolish.

[@dondon6655]

This was a terrific interview. Thanks Walter.

[@puravidadew7031]

We need more justices on the Supreme Court like this man who realizes that the constitution is over 250 years old and cannot be read in the same light as when it was written.

[@lesleepetersen87]

Thank you, Justice Breyer!!! 💙💙💙

[@albertulrich4958]

For what?

[@emmahardesty4330]

Wisdom is great...but what are we going to do now? How do we get out of this alarming, deadly actually, situation with the Court?

[@buzoff4642]

Reconfigure our voting processes, to take them out of the self-serving parties' interests.

[@randomone4832]

A wise and prudent Justice. Always learn a lot hearing Justic Breyer speak.

[@Siskos-pn7nd]

We now have a Constitution that no one can read or understand because what you thought was clear language and meaning, now means something entirely different because of the convoluted interpretation br the Supreme Court. The recent 14th Amendment and the questions concerning immunity by Supreme Court are examples.

[@chuckstrawn3076]

I miss Justice Breyer and Bader Ginsberg on the court so much today.

[@JosephBishop-g3t]

Everyone had a right to enjoy his/her older age etc., but why did this man need to retire?? I can’t imagine he’s at complete peace with that decision now. Term limits would take this terrible pressure off of these poor civil servants.

[@Rnankn]

It has always seemed to me that in enlightened cultures, elders step aside sooner, rather than later. I assume this is done as a respect for the next generation, who are then able to take responsibility for the world in which they live. Of course, elders are wise, and should offer frequent advice and mentorship, as the justice is doing here.

[@cocofluff]

The question is why DIDN"T RBG retire during Obama's presidency? She's like Biden and Trump, acting like God has guaranteed they will live to be 100.

[@AE-bm4no]

i mean, he's not really retired, he's on this show and promoting his book and educating.

[@grahamjones5400]

Ruth Ginsberg refused to retire and now the Supreme Court is solidly Christian nationalist majority. Thanks for nothing, Ruth.

[@lindas-k5766]

​@@cocofluff- okay, suppose RBG had retired during Obama's presidency! She would likely have had to have done so in 2014 or earlier in order for Obama to have been allowed (by McConnell) to nominate her replacement AND have them approved! After all, McConnell prevented Obama's nominee (Garland) from being processed... in early 2016, so I doubt it would have mattered if RBG had retired during Obama's term.

[@chrisdaykin3899]

The right to bear arms - quite different between bearing a musket vs bearing an AR-15

[@robinantonio8870]

And" as part of a well regulated militia. " The gun nuts always forget that bit.

[@jsnumber7]

@@robinantonio8870 Scalia was very clear in holding that the first part don't provide the limitation you think it does.

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

​@@robinantonio8870a lot are in militias.

[@silus73]

​@@jsnumber7however Article 1 section 8 clauses 15 - 16 do provide a very specific limit, that as the man said the gun nuts like to omit. The founders while not able to predict the insane weapons like nuke, rocket launchers, tanks, and even ar-15s did spell out who had control when it comes to the welfare whole nation against enemies both foreign and domestic.

[@willmont8258]

AR-15 is today's rifle of the militiaman.

[@grandmothersukhrealta3611]

I know one thing, the weapons being used in the early to mid 1700s were not AK-47s or other weapons of war that shred and kill people in a minute.

[@albertulrich4958]

Your a sharpie, alright!

[@grandmothersukhrealta3611]

@@albertulrich4958 🤣🤣 sharp enough to know that justices trying to figure out what people meant in the 1700s is a bunch of crap.

[@albertulrich4958]

@@grandmothersukhrealta3611 You just laid out how sharp YOU are! I asked about the corruption and your talking GUNS? You mis-tag me G-M-ther?

[@willmont8258]

@@grandmothersukhrealta3611 So we should be able to ban TV, radio, and internet, because they didn't exist in the 1700s.

[@metacapitalism5113]

I thought of you when I read this quote from "Worse Than Nothing: The Dangerous Fallacy of Originalism" by Erwin Chemerinsky - "[O]riginalism is an emperor with no clothes. Most constitutional law decisions inescapably come down to value choices by the justices or judges deciding the cases. Originalism does not avoid that at all. It only allows conservative justices and judges to pretend that they are following a neutral theory when in reality they are imposing their own values."

[@MossyMozart]

@metacapitalism5113 - Thank you for bringing that quote to our attention.

[@willmont8258]

This person is trying to justify the very same thing himself, but he wants a different outcome, so he rationalizes a way to do it.

[@johnanderson3700]

The real question is; what is the intent of the words; and secondly, is that meaning frozen in time, or do we have to adjust our understanding of the intent to the reality in which we live today. Hence, we can’t escape context of the moment in terms of how we understand the constitution.

[@charliehammer8780]

To properly decipher the constitution one must look at the plain text and the supporting contemporary writings of our founding fathers and also the history of the country which displays their intent in action. The "context of the moment", known in law circles as "interest balancing" is forbidden and it is not to be engaged in by any activist judges trying to twist the words of the constitution and the founding fathers to accommodate their wishful interpretations of our constitution.

[@jwil4286]

to answer the second question: yes, UNLESS you amend the constitution per Article V.

[@DeniseScovel]

OMG it was a pleasure to listen to Justice Brayer. If only we had more Judges and Justices that think as he does. ❤

[@loisk6186]

"Three years from now four years from now people will see that this textualism and originalism pushed to a pretty strong extreme where you can't use other things that it doesn't work because it doesn't take any account or enough account of the fact that women didn't have the right to vote when these words in the Constitution for the most part were written...Is going to undermine the values that this document sought to keep and work into the future. That it's going to make it more difficult for Congress to pass laws using sometimes abstract phrases so that you can adapt those laws more easily to a future with changing problems and changing circumstances."

[@jsnumber7]

It's too removed from modern day to be of ANY real value.

[@silus73]

​@@jsnumber7that is why the founders crafted the Constitution to be a living document so that is could grow as the nation does.

[@willmont8258]

@@silus73 They did not want a "living document" because that means no Constitution at all, because then judges can just read into it whatever they want and the Constitution becomes meaningless. This "living document" stuff is BS.

[@willmont8258]

"more difficult for Congress to pass laws". Upholding the Constitution is what we want, not finding new ways to get around it.

[@silus73]

@willmont8258 if it was not a living document, then black people would still be slaves, nor would they be able to vote, and neither would woman. If it were not. A living it would take freedom from over 2/3 of the citizens. No instead the Founders created a living document, and in it, they laid out 3 branches of equal power to safeguard it and help it grow.

[@generalbarry]

In other words, according to Stephen Breyer, "WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING CONSTITUTION!".

[@edbudzynski729]

When the Constitution was written, weapons of mass destruction were not as available. But I believe that INTERPRETATION is not the issue. SCOTUS just does whatever they feel like. Or maybe what their benefactors want them to do.

[@kenwalker687]

There are different legal philosophies in SCOTUS. People learned this in high school. Rejection of Roe vs Wade was bound to happen.

[@JP-JustSayin]

What if the founder's "original intent" was that we today should not be bound by their original intent?

[@jsnumber7]

GO ahead and explain what their "original intent" actually was. (Aside from keeping all the money and power to themselves as rich white landowners.)

[@MossyMozart]

@JP-JustSayin - It was just so, Otherwise, they would not have provided a mechanism for change in the Constitution.

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

​@@jsnumber7boring

[@buzoff4642]

@@MossyMozart They did, they're called amendments.

[@paulthomas963]

That's why there are constitutional amendment procures. Follow them or shut up.

[@111Phoenix777]

Thank you SC Justice Breyer!!!!

[@geinikan1kan]

What a show this is. So much food for thought.

[@barrymackaben6534]

Thank you, Judge Breyer. Please do more. Your smooth, methodical voice is what we need in this country

[@davidrees1840]

The 1st part of the 2nd Amendment negates probably over 90% of gun ownership, but is never mentioned -why not? "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." To me, "well regulated Militia" means National Guard and military.

[@quick65filly]

The bill of rights applies to individuals. This is settled. The framers had no need to grant the Army the right to bear arms. The federalist papers make it crystal clear.

[@davidrees1840]

@@quick65filly The Army doesn't have the right to bear arms; it's a necessity, and no longer applies when one leaves the Army. A well-regulated militia may have been farmers back then, but not today, where National Guard fills that need for each state. It does not make sense that it applies to any individual who is not National Guard.

[@quick65filly]

@@davidrees1840 So you're fine then as long as gun owners belong to a militia. The bill of rights didn't apply to militia. Only individuals and it does not address the National Guard which didn't exist. A well armed citizenry was critical to the framers. For very good reason. A police state was not their vision.

[@davidrees1840]

@@quick65filly No, I mean that Nat Guard and Army obviously need guns, but everyone else would apply for permission to get a gun, like in Canada, Australia, etc. I find the language of the 2nd Am. very clear: "a well-regulated militia" means only 1 thing -it is not ambiguous or open to interpretation. A militia can be several things, but the US has 1 well-regulated militia per state, and it's the National Guard, and it's so well organized that they don't need to bring their own guns ;p

[@quick65filly]

@@davidrees1840 Militias are individual citizens. The National Guard is government. The bill of rights did not apply to government.

[@richardthiele8363]

Textualism reminds me of biblical literalism, that words written down hundreds or thousands of years ago are the final word on truth. It denies the living reality that happens all around us from generation to generation. The basic values of the Constitution (or the Bible), as Breyer says, still apply but we should apply those values as they pertain to today’s world. If a judge bases his judgment on how he thinks the original authors of the Constitution “intended” it, he may forget that the world has changed in ways that would be unimaginable to the founding fathers.

[@mizu2in]

What you say is the only sensible way to look at any set of rules that persists as long as the US Constitution has. In the Christian Bible also, we see the helpfulness of the stories emerge when we find we can relate to them. I think we may have to expand the Court to return it to reality, or impose some sort of maximum term. Justices don't simply get wiser and wiser...sometimes they get senile.

[@Xaxtarr_Neonraven]

We lose something when we surrender our humanity to systems that are unwilling to evolve and change but remain trapped in self-imposed ideology, but I think our problem is even deeper as self-serving interpretations through logically fallacious reasoning in support of tribalism now seems to rule the day.

[@Aristothielian]

You're right that they're similar, but the similarities don't stop there. The only thing more incoherent than biblical literalism is biblical non-literalism, at least in the context of clinging to the pretense that the bible is worthy of any kind of reverence or deference, and the same is true with regard to textualism and its alternatives. If we acknowledge that the bible is best viewed as a literary work or allegory that's open to interpretation, fine, but don't then start quoting scripture at me and act like I'm supposed to give a damn.

[@FakingANerve]

​@@AristothielianWell said! 🍻

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

In both if one does not understand the time in which they were written they won't understand the meaning. That's humanities 101, understand the culture.

[@letsRegulateSociopaths]

Textualism is just a way to justify political decisions. The Leo Court says whatever to do whatever they set out to do

[@uponcripplecreek1]

Exactly.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

🤦‍♂️intrest balancing is just a way of justifying the government shaving away the rights of the people. Textualism and originalism are a way to make sure your reading everything right to avoid making things up based on your feelings. Judges aren't legislators they're not supposed to make up laws or act like activists to bypass the legislative process, its their job to read them properly. Its the legislative branch who writes laws and we the people can vote them in or out of office.

[@buzoff4642]

@@Sarcasmarkus Bull. "well regulated militia", for instance.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

@@buzoff4642 right of the "PEOPLE" not right of the militia. Y'all have to work on your logic.

[@buzoff4642]

@@Sarcasmarkus You're ignoring "well regulated militia" doesn't make it not there...

[@lfrost6718]

Brilliant man! So glad he represented us in the Supreme Court and wrote this book. Congratulations Justice Breyer for all you do including this interview!

[@markmcwilliams2461]

Nailed it!

[@rjphoto66]

Justice Breyer is so wise and brilliant that this interview almost brought me to tears listening to him and in constant to where the current court is going. May his book and teaching shed light and guidance into the further and into the lives of law students and professionals for years to come

[@robertginsburg8113]

We've got the best Supreme Court money can buy.

[@annmarieknapp]

Excellent point. Especially, that POS, Clarence Thomas.

[@whooley8782]

Just like we have the best democracy money can buy.

[@willmont8258]

Best court yet, because they are actually upholding the Constitution for a change.

[@alasondrolinney5317]

Yes, the Supreme Court is bought and paid for plus, I think they have been compromised with threats to them and their families.Trumplikkkans see this as a positive because they want Jim Crow again.

[@mickey1849]

Unfortunately, this is truer than most pollyanna commenters here would be willing to either know or admit.

[@lovedoctor7222]

We lost a great justice from our supreme court , I'm glad to hear him speak about our constitution because it gives me some reassurance that a justice like Justice Breyer is giving us reality .

[@breakitdown4346]

Textualism is merely a guise for those who wish to revert the country back to a time when the country was ruled by one particular demographic. Those who claim textualism do not truly practice it.

[@mickey1849]

I think, being under the influence of their own lives and times, nobody can truly practice Textualism.

[@douglassauvageau7262]

God bless Justice Breyer. My Judeo-Christian ethic demands my respect for our heritage while adhering to my individual conscience. Justice Breyer is a respectable authority.

[@freeheeler09]

Please have the justice on again! I felt like I was back in a very good graduate seminar!

[@sophocles1198]

Excellent interview. Really got to the heart of the matter.

[@Puffsdad]

Thank you for the interview.

[@Sarcasmarkus]

"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." - Samuel Adams, Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788

[@willmont8258]

Breyer doesn't like the 2nd, so he lies about it.

[@marcvilleneuve1889]

Peaceful citizens in America? 😂😂😂

[@Sarcasmarkus]

@@marcvilleneuve1889 you must be from another country or the ghetto. Don't believe everything you see on TV most of American is fairly chill.

[@mickey1849]

@@willmont8258That was easy to gather when he mentioned the "400 million guns loose in America." His words of warning rang hollow in my ears--a man with his own agenda on this issue that is not in keeping with the Constitution. There will be no perfect justices--including Breyer.

[@willmont8258]

@@mickey1849 400 million guns "loose in America", as though guns are living creatures with minds and intentions of their own. That shows Breyer for the biased silly goose that he is.

[@howardleekilby7390]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ HOW I MISS THE VOICE OF JUSTICE BREYER ON THE SUPREME COURT ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@caroleblackburn9683]

Very interesting man.

[@user-vk7cp1op9p]

Very helpful argument. Thank you for speaking. Anyone who got your court, was very lucky to have such a wise judge. I appreciate hearing you speak. I am seeing this months later, after the Supreme Court went fascist and gave Trump full immunity, from six Extremists. It is terrible.

[@hermanvandermeij7210]

What a clarity of mind this outstanding judge has!

[@acetorres8787]

🤡

[@rickplieth9028]

" Risks"????? They already have. Between overturning Roe and accepting bribes.

[@thosethatcan]

Class action the corrupt judges...

[@MossyMozart]

The big problem is that the Supreme Court never had ethics rules codified, not even stipulated! Therefore, the egregious actions of Justices, even to the extent of Thomas and Alito, though unethical and immoral, were not against any laws. BOO!

[@mickey1849]

Yeah...

[@arisbel]

"Law is not hard science, it's not calculus". Breyer is a star

[@ISpitHotFiyaa]

The court isn't supposed to be "creating" a constitution or any other law. This is the problem with judicial review. If the constitution is not clear and explicit about some issue then the judiciary needs to stay out of it and defer to the legislature. Unfortunately instead these philosopher kings overturn laws they don't like by tying them to ill-defined constitutional provisions with specious logic. That's not democracy - representative or otherwise.

[@carbonbomb4774]

The legislature can't go beyond the constitution. The constitution is built to be vague and take care of ever changing facts that will always be new in the future.

[@TheMagnificentMongoSlade]

That's exactly what he's talking about here

[@addiemclain1183]

I love Justice Breyer. I could listen to him all day long.

[@nacacelles]

France and the US became republics around the same time and based on the same principles of separation of powers and fundamental human rights. France is now in its 5th constitution (including a constitutional court). Why doesn’t the US look to France as an example of institutional evolution?

[@buzoff4642]

Because the US refuses to evolve. EU would be stunned by the work terms alone in the US.

[@paulthomas963]

There's no good reason why politicians or activists haven't tried to amend the constitution that I can see. They did it during Prohibition.

[@merrittdegraw4313]

I have always loved Justice Breyer’s approach and teachings!

[@-Gramps]

Thank you, Justice Breyer! The irony herein is that the conservative justices, who comprise the “textualist” interpretation, wouldn’t *dare* to interpret their beloved Bible in the same manner. If they did, Thomas & all the women would be forever subservient to men.

[@jeremy454]

Check out the majority opinion in Dobbs if you want to see how the courts look at things.

[@phil20_20]

Something oft overlooked, our enemies also know we have more than one gun for every citizen. This does not mean we should let undisciplined people run around with guns. In fact, Regulation is of utmost importance to the usefulness of firearms. So textualism is an illusion.

[@willmont8258]

We have laws that prohibit criminals from having guns, and those laws are almost never enforced.

[@sylviaespeckerman8348]

Excellent Justice Breyer!! 😊

[@thomasesau2376]

The legislators had no problem passing laws against Swithblade jackknives. They are particularly lousy weapons. But Rebel Without A Cause, West Side Story, and The Cross and the Switchblade, provoke a nationwude ban on a fairly non lethal ARM. So military weapons are protected arms, while novelty jackknives are outlawed.

[@jsnumber7]

Exactly.

[@willmont8258]

What are the arms of the 2nd? What is the "militia" arm that "the people" have a right to? By your standard, there is no arm that can't be banned.

[@mcc-us]

What an amazing, thoughtful, and clear argument he provides. What an amazing person.