The appointment and confirmation process

Question 1

The vacancy

Answer 1

• First, the president must wait for a vacancy to occur. It may take a long time for a vacancy to arise due to the life terms judges serve.
• Supreme court appointments are arguably the most important thing that a president will do

Question 2

The search and pools of recruitment

Answer 2

• The president will seek advice from different sources. First, he asks his political advisers - senior White House aides and top officials in the Justice Department - for possible nominees.
• The president may hear some names from key members of Congress, such as from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
• The president will also look at appeal courts and state courts and possibly the DOJ.

Question 3

The announcement

Answer 3

• Once a shortlist has been drawn up, FBI background checks are conducted on all the possible nominees and the president will personally interview two or three finalists.
• The president will then announce the final nominee. The nominee will then be rated by the ABA standing committee on the federal judiciary. Nominees are either rated: “well qualified”; “qualified”; “not qualified”

Question 4

The confirmation process

Answer 4

• The nominee will firstly appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hearings will be held, with supporters and critics attending.
• If the process goes badly for the nominee, they may withdraw. The committee will then vote on whether or not to recommend further action.
• A confirmation vote will then take place on the Senate floor to either confirm or reject the nominee.