Will your Vote effect the Supreme Court? And does that matter?

Are you sick of the influence of money in politics? Or about the gun violence in our country?

Want to make sure that rape and incest victims don’t have to carry their babies to term?

Then think twice about whom you vote for in the upcoming presidential election. Because, Yes, your vote really does matter.

Here are some excerpts from a recent article in the LA Times. A link to the full article is at the end.

The Supreme Court is not on the ballot in November, but its future direction on issues such as abortion, gay rights, gun rights, voting laws and the role of money in politics depends on who is elected president for the next four years.

Given one more liberal vote, the court would likely switch directions on campaign money and uphold laws that limit election spending and require the full disclosure of donors. With an extra conservative vote, however, the justices on the right are likely to go further and free big donors — including corporations — to give money directly to candidates and parties.

The law on abortion could also switch with a change of one justice.

With an extra vote on the right, the six Republican appointees would likely uphold strict regulation of abortion, and possibly a criminal ban.

The justices are closely split along ideological lines. The court's makeup means that a President Mitt Romney could tip the court decisively to the right

"A change in the ideology of only one justice could have a profound impact on the course of constitutional law," said professor Geoffrey Stone at the University of Chicago Law School.

Clint Bolick, a lawyer for the Goldwater Institute in Phoenix, is not rooting for an Obama victory, but he agrees the election could have a lasting effect on a closely split court.

"The average justice remains in office nearly 25 years — more than six presidential terms. Supreme Court nominations are one of most enduring legacies a president has," he said.

Presidential race may leave lasting imprint on Supreme Court by By David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times

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