APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUPREME COUR

Question 1

When do vacancies open for the USSC

Answer 1

Death, retirement or impeachment

Question 2

Where do nominees for USSC come from and who finds them

Answer 2

Most from federal courts of appeal

Suggestions made by president’s advisers, party and legal experts

Question 3

What is the appointment process for a USSC justice

Answer 3

Candidates shortlisted

Chosen by president after checks

Nominee stands In front of the senate judiciary committee - then votes - recommendation to senate

Senate then votes - simple majority needed

Question 4

What happens after USSC nominees are shortlisted

Answer 4

The president interviews the final few candidates he wants

Question 5

Strength of the nomination of USSC in terms of scrutiny

Answer 5

Detailed scrutiny of every nominee by the white house, FBI, the senate judiciary committee and the media

Lots of opportunity’s for unsuitable candidates to be withdrawn

Question 6

Strength of the nomination of USSC in terms of senate ratification

Answer 6

Provides a check on the power of the president

Must choose a candidate who will gather enough support to pass through senate

Question 7

Strength of the nomination of USSC in terms of justices not copying presidents ideology

Answer 7

Justices can be picked to duplicate a presidents idea’s but can sometimes not work

Conservative G.H.W Bush appointed Souter in 1990 but became a liberal member of the court

Question 8

Weakness of the nomination of USSC in terms of presidents ideas

Answer 8

Justices appointed to duplicate the presidents ideas

Question 9

Weakness of the nomination of USSC in terms of scrutiny

Answer 9

Scrutiny from presidents party small

Senate judiciary committee appears to be politicised - questioning from opposition often to try embarrass nominees than focus on experience

Voting by senate done on party lines

Question 10

Weakness of the nomination of USSC in terms of merrick garland

Answer 10

Republican senate didn’t consider garland in 2016 in a violation of the presidents power

then rushed Amy Coney Barrett through in 2020 in the same circumstances

Question 11

Weakness of the nomination of USSC in terms of filibustering

Answer 11

In 2017 the republican senators made it so you only needed a simple majority for closer to a filibuster

This led Barrett to be the first every USSC judge to not get a single vote from opposition

Question 12

Weakness of the nomination of USSC in terms of kavanaugh

Answer 12

Kavanaugh faced accusations of sexual assault doing his appointment in 2018

Trump ridiculed the accuser

When senate confirmed Kavanaugh many lost faith in the USSC