Launch, Jan. 27
Imagine John Paul Stevens retired today,
and now President Obama needs to
nominate a SC justice.
What should President Obama look for in
a Supreme Court justice?
What should be the criteria for nominating
a justice to the highest court in the land?
Selection Criteria
1. Political Ideology – Prez usually appoint
judges that share similar ideology
But . . No real way to predict how justices
will rule
EX: Ike Earl Warren and William
Brennan (most liberal judges)
2. Party and Personal loyalties – Prez
share political party
3. Acceptability to the Senate – will the
Senate approve this nominee?
4. Judicial Experience – most times,
justices have held judicial positions
5. Race & gender
5. The “Litmus Test” - test of ideological
purity EX: abortion, privacy
The Politics of Nomination
To be “Borked”
Is the justice believe in judicial restraint or
is the judge a judicial activist?