O'Connor: Maybe SCOTUS shouldn't have ruled on Bush v. Gore

The case "gave the court a less-than-perfect reputation," she said

Published April 29, 2013 3:06PM (EDT)

Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor said last week that in retrospect, perhaps the Supreme Court should not have elected to rule on Bush v. Gore, the 2000 decision that ended the Florida recount in the presidential race.

"It took the case and decided it at a time when it was still a big election issue," she told the Chicago Tribune editorial board in an interview on Friday. "Maybe the court should have said, 'We're not going to take it, goodbye.'"

From the Tribune:

The case, she said, "stirred up the public" and "gave the court a less-than-perfect reputation."

"Obviously the court did reach a decision and thought it had to reach a decision," she said. "It turned out the election authorities in Florida hadn't done a real good job there and kind of messed it up. And probably the Supreme Court added to the problem at the end of the day."


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2000 Elections Al Gore George W. Bush Sandra Day O'connor Supreme Court