I have always been and will always be a big advocate for gender equality, specifically women’s rights believing that the court should be gender-blind. I also have strong opinions about the rights of workers and the separation of church and state. From the moment I became a justice in 1993, I have brought these ideas forth in the court room and because of it my opinion has influenced the court on many different occasions.
My biggest influence on the court that I have had so far was in the United States v. Virginia. In this case I wrote the landmark decision in this case which the Virginia Military Institute that they would not admit women. We reversed this order and I was a landmark decision in this court case.
I also gathered a lot of attention for my dissenting opinion in the Bush v. Gore case which effectively decided the 2000 Presidential election. I objected the courts majority opinion in favoring Bush with the famous use of the words, “I dissent,” refusing to use the word “respectfully.”
I believe this case should be decided in favor of James Risen. I am a liberal judge who is open to change in how the constitution runs the nation. I believe reporters should have security in their right to remain confidential. We need reporters to report the truth and if the government is to come after them every time they do not like the truth that a reporter puts out then how can we ever expect to hear the truth? My opinion is in the favor of Risen and hope my counterparts can come to such an agreement as well.