Imagine this scenario: An umpire for whatever reason (the reason doesn't matter) calls the same baseball player (and only that player) safe on every call no matter if he is safe or not. Like I said the reason does not matter. The baseball player and umpire could be friends, they could be family, the umpire could have been paid off. The reason does not matter. The umpire is not upholding the rules of the game. Even if the player was having a bad day the umpire has to uphold the rules. The rules make the game fair to both sides.
When a Supreme Court Judge makes a ruling he or she has to follow the laws of the Constitution just like the umpire has to follow the rules of a baseball game. Supreme Court judges cannot create their own laws just like the umpire cannot create rules of the game. That's anarchy. A judge has to treat the parties involved impartially and fairly. Justice is blind after all. He cannot and must not take sides.
When Obama talks about emphatic Supreme Court judges what does he mean? Emphatic to who? Women and minorities? Is that fair? Judges should not let their emotions or personal experiences rules them.
When your a district judge being emphatic could be alright. For instance not letting a terrified child be in the same court of law with its attacker. If this case the guardians of the child could represent the child's interest. Even then a district court judge has to stay within the guidelines of the law.