Committee hearings this week critical
Supreme Court justices fill vital role in checks, balance process
One may not give much consideration to the United States Supreme Court.
It’s the highest court in the nation, with nine seated justices. And 13 months after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senate Judiciary Committee hearings began this week to replace him with Judge Neil Gorsuch.
According to the U.S. Courts website, the U.S. Supreme Court “is the court of last resort for those looking for justice.”
But it plays other key roles as well. The U.S. Courts site notes, “Second, due to its power of judicial review, it plays an essential role in ensuring that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its own power. Third, it protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution. Finally, it sets appropriate limits on democratic government by ensuring that popular majorities cannot pass laws that harm and/or take undue advantage of unpopular minorities. In essence, it serves to ensure that the changing views of a majority do not undermine the fundamental values common to all Americans, i.e., freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and due process of law.”
And yet survey after survey each year finds that many Americans struggle to answer basic questions about the court, nor can they name the justices currently seated on the court.
The nine justices of the Supreme Court wield an incredible power, and fulfill a critical role in our process of checks and balances between the White House (the executive branch) and Congress (the legislative branch). It’s critical that people know who serves on the Supreme Court, and that Americans understand the role that the court plays, and how the court impacts our day to day lives.
This week, take a few moments and listen to the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings, or read some of the transcripts. Learn about the nominee to replace Justice Scalia, be involved in the process, and let your elected representatives in D.C. know what you think.
And for the record, the eight justices currently seated on the Supreme Court are John Roberts, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Clarence Thomas, Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito. If confirmed, Gorsuch will fill the ninth seat.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THIS OR NOT?
I read the letters from Laura Beaupre and Margaret Hopper regarding the trash around our city. Recently as I was driving west on 32nd Street I noted the medians are overrun by weeds. I realize we had an unusually wet winter, however I don’t think those weeds are ever addressed. As our RV park keeps harping on the weed issue, perhaps I am oversensitive to weeds, however this isn’t the first time I have noted the poor condition of those medians. The pavers are pushed up in some areas, and frankly they have looked unkempt for some years. Come on Yuma, where is your pride? Let’s take care of our easy to remedy issues now!
Litter in any area is discourteous and ugly. It is a sign of a lack of respect for your community.
Recently I received an email from Yuma Parks, describing the West Wetlands Park. We had an out-oftown visitor and decided we would take him to view the hummingbird garden and the owl habitat. There were few birds present but as we walked around the area and down to the river we observed a great deal of trash. We were embarrassed for subjecting him to this kind of thoughtlessness. Seems folks don’t understand that this area is no longer designated as a city dump. Why if you can carry a full bottle or carton can’t you carry an empty one? There are ample trash receptacles so walk over and put your garbage in them.
I have read about an East Wetlands clean up and a letter about roadside trash, so this is not just my concern. Please think about what you are doing and keep the parks clean, pick up after the thoughtless slobs who throw stuff in the waterways and brush.
April is Parkinson’s disease Awareness Month. I have lived with Parkinson’s for 20+ years and I also run the Yuma Parkinson’s Support Group. As my disease progresses, this volunteer position becomes more and more difficult for me to handle. I could not run the group without the help of my husband and a Parkinson’s widow named Cathy.
Several times a month, my phone rings. It is often a recently diagnosed person wanting the name of a Parkinson’s specialist in Yuma. I can hear their pain when I must tell them the closest ones are in Phoenix, Tucson or San Diego. Other times, it is a patient with a prescription from a Phoenix specialist for a specific type of speech or physical/occupational therapy. Once again, I must tell them it is not available in Yuma on an outpatient basis. It isn’t practical to drive to Phoenix for therapy.
Yuma has a large number of peo- ple living with Parkinson’s and yet, there is nothing locally to help them, except our monthly support group meetings. Other cities of this size (or smaller) have Rock Steady boxing programs, Tremble Clefs singing programs, Dance for PD, outpatient therapy and telemedicine programs.
I keep my fingers crossed that one day, I won’t have to send people elsewhere.
Your March 18th issue showed a large photograph of two gorgeous nestling hummingbirds on the front page. Although we all can appreciate the beauty and charismatic charm of baby birds, especially tiny hummers, please be informed that photography of nestlings can be hazardous to their health. Flash photography has proved especially dangerous to hummingbirds, who may interpret the sudden flash of light as a hostile bird approaching. In response to a flash or disturbance, nestlings may fall to the ground also possibly incurring fatal injuries.
To learn more about hummingbirds, and the joys and heartbreaks of rescuing them, read “Fastest Things on Wings, Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood” by Terry Masear. This gripping memoir of a woman partaking in hummingbird rescue was my favorite book of the year.