Stevens calls two controversial Supreme Court decisions "unwise" News
Stevens calls two controversial Supreme Court decisions "unwise"

[JURIST] US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens [Wikipedia profile] has continued to candidly voice his opinions by calling the outcomes of two prominent cases decided by the Supreme Court this term "unwise" while speaking at a bar association meeting in Las Vegas. Justice Stevens wrote the majority opinions in the Kelo v. New London [JURIST report; opinion], which allowed the government to take private homes for public use, and in the Gonzales v. Raich [JURIST report; opinion], which enforced the federal government's narcotics laws over California's medical marijuana plan. Justice Stevens said in both cases he "was convinced that the law compelled a result that I would have opposed if I were a legislator" but despite his personal opinions, Stevens said the US Constitution allowed the resulting decisions. Earlier this month, Justice Stevens also spoke [text] at the annual meeting of the American Bar Association [group website] to offer his opinion on flaws in the current death penalty system [JURIST report]. The New York Times has more.