Lot 1086
Stevens, John Paul (1920 -) Associate Justice of the Supreme Court since December 19, 1975; appointed by President Ford. Typed Transcript Signed in blue ink at the top of the first page, December 12, 2000, 7pp, quarto. This is Justice Stevens' dissent in the Supreme Court's decision to step in and stop the Florida Supreme Court's ruling to manually recount presidential election ballots in the 2001 election. Justice Stevens, who was joined in his dissent by Justices Ginsburg and Breyer, says in part: "The Constitution assigns to the States the primary responsiblity for determining the manner of selecting the Presidential elections. When questions arise…it is our settled practice to accept the opinions of the highest courts of the States…." …." He writes that "the legitimacy of the election" might be forever stained if the recount is stopped, and concludes: "Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's Presidential election, the identity of the loser is perfectly clear. It is the Nation's confidence in the judge as an impartial guardian of the rule of law…." A historic document, in mint condition.
Estimated Value $300 - 500.
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| Realized $518 |
