Opebo (Associate Justice) Confirmation Hearing

[opebo]

What would be wrong with a more amusing Justice on the court?... Opebo has been around a LONG time.

All I want to know is, how many laws would the nominee consider prudish?

Thanks to all the Senators who have expressed support of my candidacy or of a 'fair hearing'.

As to your question, Senator Doctor Cynic, I do not know how many prudish laws are on the books, but I'll know them when I see them.

[opebo]

I wish to draw your attention to the fact that Atlasia has no federal minimum wage... Do you believe it to be unconstitutional?

No, minimum wage laws are perfectly constitutional.  As for not having one, I consider it unfortunate, but not unconstitutional.

[opebo]

Would you support any member of this body's or the Executive Branch's efforts to instill one?

As a citizen, yes.  If appointed to the court I will refrain from direct involvement in political issues.

[opebo]

Hell, given the opportunity, the nominee would be doing his damdest to strike anything he considers "prudery" down because it runs counter to his subjective preferences

We can't have judicial activism on the bench, in any shape or form

'Hawk'

Could the Nominee please answer Senator Hawk? His concerns are similar to mine.

I regret any inconvenience to the Senators, but I did not see a question in Senator Hawks commentary.

[opebo]

1. Why do you want to be on the Supreme Court?

Pure altruism, Jas, pure altruism.   

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I concurr with Justice Ernest's dissent saying that the minimum wage is constitutional here:
https://uselectionatlas.org/AFEWIKI/index.php/Bono_v._Atlasia_II

The relevant section is: "Therefore, labor is clearly an item of commerce and thus it is within the purview of the Senate under Article I Section 5 Clause 9 to establish minimum standards for that item of commerce. Setting a minimum economic value for tradable labor is clearly one particular means of establishing such a standard and thus a law setting a minimum wage ... is constitutional.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I have no problem with current precedent on this issue.

You must be logged in to read this quote.

It should be enforced, but the details of implementation of any legislated policy are the purveiw of the executive, not the judicial branch.

[opebo]

Although I'm not a senator, or even a registered citizen, I wonder if I might be able to ask a question?

Opebo, what are your views on the First Amendment to the Atlasian Constitution?

Naturally, like any reasonable liberal I disagree with it, and would hope to see it rescinded one day.  This is a personal position and has no bearing of course upon my duties at the Court.

[opebo]

I thank the nominee for his responses, and hope he will not object to one or two quick follow-ups.

3. Does the President have the constitutional authority to fire the Game Moderator?

I have no problem with current precedent on this issue.

The only precedent on this matter, to my knowledge, was President Ebowed',s recent order firing the previous GM, EarlAW. No action arose from this. Just to clarify, is it your belief that should Earl have taken an action to the Court challenging the President's authority to fire him that you would have upheld the Presidential ruling?

Yes.  I think the fact that the position is a presidential appointment, not subject to confirmation by the Senate implies that the GM serves at the president's discretion.

4. How strictly should the prohibition on campaigning in the voting booth be enforced?

It should be enforced, but the details of implementation of any legislated policy are the purveiw of the executive, not the judicial branch.

Granted, but the Court has had to decide in times past on the validity of votes after an executive decision was made regarding campaigning. If I may, could I ask your opinions on the cases of ILP v DoFA and TD v. DoFA.

Thank you.
[/quote]

In both cases I would have decided in favour of the Department of Forum Affairs.  Both ballots contained what I would consider to be campaigning.

[opebo]

Thank you senators.  Will there be an official announcement, or should I just assume I am now ensconced?