Souter Dissent on Citizens United Suppressed

A New Yorker article by Jeffrey Toobin on the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision disclosed that Justice David Souter had filed a strong dissent that “aired some of the Court’s dirty laundry”.  Chief Justice Roberts then slated the case to be "reargued" at a later date, which not only insured that Souter’s dissent would not be published due to his retirement, but dramatically expanded the scope of the questions under consideration for the case.  See Toobin’s article for details. 

Mr. Justice David Souter

Has had enough of the Supremes

He’s been a circumspect straight shooter

But he’s aghast at right-wing schemes.

In the case of Citizens United

He wrote a very strong dissent

It was so strong that it incited

Justice Roberts’ discontent.

So Roberts used a nifty trick

To keep from it the light of day

Since Souter’s such a maverick

I really wish he’d had his say.

He castigated certain justices -

His right-wing colleagues on the court -

No doubt he felt disgust as his

Dissent was then cut short.

                                                                   

See Toobin’s article about

The Citizens United tale -

It gave the wealthy too much clout,

And put our country up for sale.