©2010 Washington Times

Byline: James W. Ely Jr. 

In seeking a replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, President Obama indicated that he wanted to name someone in the Stevens mold. Among the qualities of Justice Stevens that Mr. Obama hoped to find in a successor, the president noted "a keen understanding of how the law affects the daily lives of the American people."  

However, in at least one important area of constitutional law - the rights of property owners - Justice Stevens' record fell woefully short of protecting the interests of average citizens. In fact, Justice Stevens consistently dismissed property rights claims and voted to strengthen government control over the lives of individuals. Read more.