The selection of federal judges is often a very political process with important political ramifications because judges are nominated by the president and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Presidents, in general, try to select well-qualified men and women for the bench. The senatorial courtesy is frequently applied, which is a process by which presidents generally defer selection of district court judges to the choice of senators of their own party who represent the state where the vacancy occurs. Whether the nominee is a friend or someone known to the president only by reputation, at least six criteria are important: competence, ideology or policy preferences, rewards, pursuit of political support, religion, race, and gender.
Competence-most prospective nominees are expected to have had at least some judicial or governmental experience. In 2008, all nine sitting Supreme Court justices had prior judicial experience.
Ideology or policy preferences-most presidents seek to appoint individuals who share their policy preferences, and almost all have political goals in mind when they appoint a justice.
Rewards-many of those appointed to the Supreme Court have been personal friends of presidents. Most presidents also select justices of their own party affiliations.
Pursuit of political support-During Ronald Reagan’s successful campaign for the presidency in 1980, some of his advisers feared that the gender gap would hurt him. To gain support from women, Reagan announced during his campaign that should he win, he would appoint a women to the fill the first vacancy on the Court. President Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Conner of the Arizona Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy.
Religion-For years, traditionally, there was a Catholic and a Jewish seat on the Court. Of the 110 judges who served on the Court, only eleven have been Catholic and only seven have been Jewish. Today more Catholics serve on the court than at any other point in history.
Race and Gender-Through 2008, only two African Americans and two women have served on the Court. Race was undoubtedly a critical issue in the appointment of Clarence Thomas to replace Thurgood Marshall. President George Bush announced that he was “picking the best for the job on the merits,” a claim that was met with considerable skepticism by many observers. Although the role of gender was crucial to the nominations of Sandra Say O’ Connor, when O’ Conner resigned, George W. Bush nominated Judge John G. Roberts Jr. O’ Connor’s vacancy eventually was filled by Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.
The selection of federal judges is often a very political process with important political ramifications because judges are nominated by the president and must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Presidents, in general, try to select well-qualified men and women for the bench. The senatorial courtesy is frequently applied, which is a process by which presidents generally defer selection of district court judges to the choice of senators of their own party who represent the state where the vacancy occurs. Whether the nominee is a friend or someone known to the president only by reputation, at least six criteria are important: competence, ideology or policy preferences, rewards, pursuit of political support, religion, race, and gender.
ReplyDeleteCompetence-most prospective nominees are expected to have had at least some judicial or governmental experience. In 2008, all nine sitting Supreme Court justices had prior judicial experience.
Ideology or policy preferences-most presidents seek to appoint individuals who share their policy preferences, and almost all have political goals in mind when they appoint a justice.
Rewards-many of those appointed to the Supreme Court have been personal friends of presidents. Most presidents also select justices of their own party affiliations.
Pursuit of political support-During Ronald Reagan’s successful campaign for the presidency in 1980, some of his advisers feared that the gender gap would hurt him. To gain support from women, Reagan announced during his campaign that should he win, he would appoint a women to the fill the first vacancy on the Court. President Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Conner of the Arizona Court of Appeals to fill the vacancy.
Religion-For years, traditionally, there was a Catholic and a Jewish seat on the Court. Of the 110 judges who served on the Court, only eleven have been Catholic and only seven have been Jewish. Today more Catholics serve on the court than at any other point in history.
Race and Gender-Through 2008, only two African Americans and two women have served on the Court. Race was undoubtedly a critical issue in the appointment of Clarence Thomas to replace Thurgood Marshall. President George Bush announced that he was “picking the best for the job on the merits,” a claim that was met with considerable skepticism by many observers. Although the role of gender was crucial to the nominations of Sandra Say O’ Connor, when O’ Conner resigned, George W. Bush nominated Judge John G. Roberts Jr. O’ Connor’s vacancy eventually was filled by Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr.