(quote)
"Judiciary appointments, on the other hand, don't go away when the administration does."

Uhmmm , neither does deficit spending debt with Fed interest.
We're *still* deepening the debt with Bushites reducing revenues. The weakened economy has also put several State budgets dangerously into the Red with *zero* chance of Fed help becasue the lionshare of Fed spending is beoing channeled into military and this "homeland security" agenda.

I don't know which State you make your living in ,but if it's one suffering these revenue droughts you'll be getting just a small taste of what austerity budget cutbacks will be like .

(quote)
" If one moderate Supreme Court justice resigns, the interpretation of the Constitution could take a radically different direction for many, many years. "

Well there's not much one can do when a Senator's vote for accepting a nomination hinges upon getting desperately needed funds or Fed contracts ( jobs) for their state. Guess which the the voters will choose in a prolonged weakened economy and their kids near college or, worse ,that $80k college degree leads to maybe a $9 an hour job. How many personal bankruptcies for defaults on school loans do you believe this econmy can absorb?

Just out of curiosity what particular laws you're watching specifically that you perceive as being potentially threatened?