Here are my predictions based on some context.
Will Uphold Previous Ruling (that struck down Prop 8)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Jewish, appointed by Clinton, Democrat, pro-choice; she once attended a Red Mass with the other Justices and refused to go again because it was blatantly against women's right to an abortion. I believe she'll support the previous ruling to strike down Prop 8.
Stephen Gerald Bryer: appointed by Clinton, generally viewed as a liberal, has consistently voted in favor of abortion rights, doesn't construe the constitution with an "originalist" lens; considered to be Scalia's counterweight. Will most likely support the previous ruling to strike down Prop 8.
John G Roberts: Chief Justice, appointed by George W. Bush, viewed as a conservative, believes the decision of Roe V. Wade is a settled law and that nothing in his personal views would hinder his upholding of it. Wasn't very explicit, though. Voted in favor of the Partial Abortion Ban Act. I'm not sure how he'll vote but I think he would uphold the previous ruling because it presents an issue for the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which he has referenced before in his opinions regarding Brown v. Board education and the deliberate assignment of students into schools based on race to ensure integration. He agreed with the Brown V. Board ruling based on the circumstances of the time period, but didn't think that in the present time race should be an issue regarding the placement of students. For this reason, I believe he will uphold the ruling against Prop 8 because the circumstances present another civil rights issue.
Sonia Sotomayor: Catholic, appointed by Obama, regarding abortion she agreed with a Bush Administration policy (prior to her Supreme court appointment): "Mexico City Policy, which states that "the United States will no longer contribute to separate nongovernmental organizations which perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations."[Sotomayor held that the policy did not constitute a violation of equal protection, as "the government is free to favor the anti-abortion position over the pro-choice position, and can do so with public funds."
Also very important is that Sotomayor's votes are in line with the votes of Ginsburg and Breyer 90 percent of the time. I believe she'll vote to uphold the previous ruling that struck down Prop 8.
Elena Kagan: Jewish, appointed by Obama, was a dean for Harvard law school. Notable views on gay rights can be derived from this: "During her deanship, Kagan upheld a decades old policy barring military recruiters from the Office of Career Services because she felt that the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy discriminated against gays and lesbians. According to Campus Progress." Don't know much else about her views. I think she'll vote the uphold the previous ruling.
Anthony Kennedy: Roman Catholic,appointed by Reagan, historically a swing-vote justice, would uphold Roe V. Wade but with some conditions, believes the right to an abortion is constitutionally protected by the 14th Amendment, Kennedy's decision on cases regarding homosexuality are mixed. He invalidated a provision in Colorado constitution that had denied the right of homosexuals to file discrimination claims. He wrote the court opinion for a ruling that invalidated Sodomy laws. However, "In the 2000 case of Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, Kennedy voted, with four other justices, to uphold the Boy Scouts of America's organizational right to ban homosexuals from being scoutmasters." But most importantly, this: Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who overturned Proposition 8, cited Kennedy's writings several times in his opinion the case, thus creating a precedent for when this case would head to the Supreme Court. It is the case that those against Proposition 8 feel that Kennedy will share their views.
Won't Uphold Previous Ruling (In favor of Prop 8)
Antonin Scalia: Roman Catholic, highly conservative in his views, opposed to affirmative action, appointed by Reagan. He doesn't believe in a living constitution, so he tries to interpret the Constitution based on what he believes the intent of the original writers was. He doesn't believe in a constitutional right to abortion and believes it's up to the states to individually pass laws to legalize abortion. He wants to strike down Roe V. Wade. He doesn't agree with any laws that make gender distinctions (which, outside of all other context would mean he wouldn't support Prop 8, right?)
Clarence Thomas: Roman Catholic, appointed by George H.W. Bush, historically, he and Scalia's decisions are aligned to a very high percentage. He agrees with Scalia that the right to an abortion is not constitutionally protected. On gay issues, Thomas' views are somewhat mixed. He criticized a sodomy law in Texas, and wrote a dissenting opinion it. However, he stated that the issue was up to the states, thus we need to consider how he will view Prop 8. He may criticize it but vote in favor of it simply to remain consistent. On a controversial Colorado law that forbade the protection of persons from discrimination based on sexual orientation and homosexual relationships, Thomas sided with Scalia in saying that the law did not violate the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection clause. So, for that reason, I feel Thomas would support Prop 8.
Samuel Alito: Catholic, appointed by George W. Bush, important: "At Princeton, Alito led a student conference in 1971 called "The Boundaries of Privacy in American Society" which, among other things, supported curbs on domestic intelligence gathering, called for the decriminalization of sodomy, and urged for an end to discrimination against gays in hiring by employers." Regarding Roe V. Wade, Alito believes some restrictions on abortion are constitutionally permitted. Has been known to side with Scalia and Thomas. I believe he'll side with them again on this issue.
So, 6-3. What do you guys think?
Will Uphold Previous Ruling (that struck down Prop 8)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Jewish, appointed by Clinton, Democrat, pro-choice; she once attended a Red Mass with the other Justices and refused to go again because it was blatantly against women's right to an abortion. I believe she'll support the previous ruling to strike down Prop 8.
Stephen Gerald Bryer: appointed by Clinton, generally viewed as a liberal, has consistently voted in favor of abortion rights, doesn't construe the constitution with an "originalist" lens; considered to be Scalia's counterweight. Will most likely support the previous ruling to strike down Prop 8.
John G Roberts: Chief Justice, appointed by George W. Bush, viewed as a conservative, believes the decision of Roe V. Wade is a settled law and that nothing in his personal views would hinder his upholding of it. Wasn't very explicit, though. Voted in favor of the Partial Abortion Ban Act. I'm not sure how he'll vote but I think he would uphold the previous ruling because it presents an issue for the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which he has referenced before in his opinions regarding Brown v. Board education and the deliberate assignment of students into schools based on race to ensure integration. He agreed with the Brown V. Board ruling based on the circumstances of the time period, but didn't think that in the present time race should be an issue regarding the placement of students. For this reason, I believe he will uphold the ruling against Prop 8 because the circumstances present another civil rights issue.
Sonia Sotomayor: Catholic, appointed by Obama, regarding abortion she agreed with a Bush Administration policy (prior to her Supreme court appointment): "Mexico City Policy, which states that "the United States will no longer contribute to separate nongovernmental organizations which perform or actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations."[Sotomayor held that the policy did not constitute a violation of equal protection, as "the government is free to favor the anti-abortion position over the pro-choice position, and can do so with public funds."
Also very important is that Sotomayor's votes are in line with the votes of Ginsburg and Breyer 90 percent of the time. I believe she'll vote to uphold the previous ruling that struck down Prop 8.
Elena Kagan: Jewish, appointed by Obama, was a dean for Harvard law school. Notable views on gay rights can be derived from this: "During her deanship, Kagan upheld a decades old policy barring military recruiters from the Office of Career Services because she felt that the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy discriminated against gays and lesbians. According to Campus Progress." Don't know much else about her views. I think she'll vote the uphold the previous ruling.
Anthony Kennedy: Roman Catholic,appointed by Reagan, historically a swing-vote justice, would uphold Roe V. Wade but with some conditions, believes the right to an abortion is constitutionally protected by the 14th Amendment, Kennedy's decision on cases regarding homosexuality are mixed. He invalidated a provision in Colorado constitution that had denied the right of homosexuals to file discrimination claims. He wrote the court opinion for a ruling that invalidated Sodomy laws. However, "In the 2000 case of Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, Kennedy voted, with four other justices, to uphold the Boy Scouts of America's organizational right to ban homosexuals from being scoutmasters." But most importantly, this: Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who overturned Proposition 8, cited Kennedy's writings several times in his opinion the case, thus creating a precedent for when this case would head to the Supreme Court. It is the case that those against Proposition 8 feel that Kennedy will share their views.
Won't Uphold Previous Ruling (In favor of Prop 8)
Antonin Scalia: Roman Catholic, highly conservative in his views, opposed to affirmative action, appointed by Reagan. He doesn't believe in a living constitution, so he tries to interpret the Constitution based on what he believes the intent of the original writers was. He doesn't believe in a constitutional right to abortion and believes it's up to the states to individually pass laws to legalize abortion. He wants to strike down Roe V. Wade. He doesn't agree with any laws that make gender distinctions (which, outside of all other context would mean he wouldn't support Prop 8, right?)
Clarence Thomas: Roman Catholic, appointed by George H.W. Bush, historically, he and Scalia's decisions are aligned to a very high percentage. He agrees with Scalia that the right to an abortion is not constitutionally protected. On gay issues, Thomas' views are somewhat mixed. He criticized a sodomy law in Texas, and wrote a dissenting opinion it. However, he stated that the issue was up to the states, thus we need to consider how he will view Prop 8. He may criticize it but vote in favor of it simply to remain consistent. On a controversial Colorado law that forbade the protection of persons from discrimination based on sexual orientation and homosexual relationships, Thomas sided with Scalia in saying that the law did not violate the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection clause. So, for that reason, I feel Thomas would support Prop 8.
Samuel Alito: Catholic, appointed by George W. Bush, important: "At Princeton, Alito led a student conference in 1971 called "The Boundaries of Privacy in American Society" which, among other things, supported curbs on domestic intelligence gathering, called for the decriminalization of sodomy, and urged for an end to discrimination against gays in hiring by employers." Regarding Roe V. Wade, Alito believes some restrictions on abortion are constitutionally permitted. Has been known to side with Scalia and Thomas. I believe he'll side with them again on this issue.
So, 6-3. What do you guys think?