Lecture Notes: Interview with Justice John Paul Stevens on His Book Six Amendments

Introduction

• Interviewer: Judy Woodruff
• Guest: Justice John Paul Stevens, former Supreme Court Justice
• Book Title: Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution
• Key Topics: Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, redistricting, death penalty, campaign finance, Second Amendment

Overview

• Justice Stevens known for evolving views from moderate to liberal
• Retired Supreme Court Justice now proposing six constitutional amendments
• Issues raised in the book address profound impacts on U.S. laws

Proposed Amendments and Key Issues

Partisan Redistricting

• Issue: States drawing districts to increase partisan strength
• Problem: Political process is misfiring; districts drawn for partisan advantage
• Solution: Remove pure political motives in redistricting, make impartial decisions

Abolishing the Death Penalty

• Past Position: Initially supported death penalty
• Change of Mind: Due to developments in rules making convictions easier, and the risk of wrongful executions
• Current View: Death penalty system is flawed and risk of incorrect execution is intolerable

Campaign Finance Reform

• Issue: Limitations on campaign spending by candidates
• Problem: Supreme Court decisions allowing unlimited spending by corporations, unions (e.g., Citizens United, McCutcheon)
• Effect: Distortion in political influence, unhealthy impact on American politics

Second Amendment (Guns)

• Proposed Change: Right to bear arms should apply only to militia service
• Reasoning: Legislatures better suited to decide gun policies; current interpretation makes judges arbiters of gun policy, which is contrary to framers' intent

Reflections

• Motivation: Justice Stevens believes conservative Justices are not partisan but have made incorrect conclusions
• Personal Reflection: Retired after noticing decline in his own performance

Conclusion

• Justice Stevens emphasizes the need for constitutional amendments to rectify important legal and social issues
• Book provides detailed arguments and justifications for each proposed change

Final Note

• Justice Stevens highlights the importance of continual legal and constitutional reforms to reflect evolving societal values