Justice O’Connor and Justice Stevens Commiserate About Citizens United

As Justice O’Connor interviews (!) Justice Stevens (h/t Jess Bravin, who confesses job insecurity), the conversation turns to CU:

    O’Connor: I suppose the court has had occasion to change its view on certain issues over a period of years. Do you see any on the horizon that you think the court might well reexamine as things go on?
    Stevens: Well, you know, Sandra, I dissented in a lot of cases, and I’d like [the court] to reexamine them all [laughs]. I don’t expect them to, but I think they made a serious mistake in the [Citizens United] campaign-finance case, in which they overruled the portion of an opinion you and I jointly authored [on the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law]. And I think you might share my view.
    O’Connor: I notice that myself, and when I am asked about it, I often say, “Well, the court overruled part of what I wrote.” And leave it there. It is a source of concern today, the extent of campaign contributions and whether corporations and unions must be held to the [same] standard as an individual. These are tough issues for the nation and the court.

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