The Future of the Court Sotomayor Breyer Alito Kagan Thomas Scalia Roberts Kennedy NotoriousRBG Eric J. Williams, PhD. Dept. Chair of Criminology & Criminal Justice Studies Sonoma State University Associate Justice Antonin Scalia Appointed in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan Originally from Queens, NY Attended Harvard Law First Italian American on the Supreme Court More On Antonin Scalia Born March 11, 1936 Died February 13, 2016 Quotes: In a big family the first child is kind of like the first pancake. If it s not perfect, that s okay, there are a lot more coming along. Mere factual innocence is no reason not to carry out a death sentence. 1
More On Antonin Scalia Graduated Valedictorian 3 times Pres. Nixon nominated him for Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel Pres. Ford sustained nomination after Nixon s resignation Returned to teaching due to Watergate scandal 1982, nominated for US Court of Appeals for DC Circuit Supreme Court nomination unanimously confirmed, 98-0 More On Antonin Scalia An originalist, meaning he interpreted the Constitution with the meanings & intentions present when adopted Ideological opposite to a living Constitution Evolves by incorporating contemporary meanings & intentions of society-at-large Supported states rights So you want to be a Supreme Court Justice? The Constitution puts no restrictions on who can be appointed to SCOTUS Nominees are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate In 211*** years 112 Supreme Court Justices 17 Chief Justices 35 Nominees have NOT been confirmed, 11 of which by a vote of the Senate 2
So you want to be a Supreme Court Justice? The Confirmation Process Until 1916, Senate confirmation hearings were closed to the public 1925, Harlan Stone was the first Nominee to appear in person before the Senate 1955, John Harlan had the first radio broadcast hearing 1981, Sandra Day O Conner had the first televised hearing So you want to be a Supreme Court Justice? How the Process Works: After the President appoints a Nominee, the Senate does a prehearing investigation Hearing occurs in front of the Senate judiciary committee Debate occurs in front of the full Senate The vote of the full Senate Sri Srinivasan (48) D.C. Circuit Judge Sri Srinivasan is perhaps the most attractive potential Supreme Court nominee Nominated by Obama in June 2012, Srinivasan was confirmed in May 2013 by a unanimous vote 3
Paul Watford (48) 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles Former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg His list of judicial rulings is still fairly short, which can be an advantage in confirmation battles. Merrick Garland Chief Judge for the DC Circuit Court of Appeals Former Federal Prosecutor and Federal Judge since 1995 Has been through one Senate Confirmation Filibuster Patricia Ann Millett D.C. Circuit Judge Former Supreme Court litigator in the Solicitor General s Office 4
Loretta Lynch (56) Attorney General of the U.S. Former Federal Prosecutor in New York Current Position in the Government Complicates Nomination Associate Justice Abraham Abe Fortas Appointed in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson Argued Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) 1968 Pres. LBJ tried to elevate him to Chief Justice, replacing Earl Warren Nomination blocked by filibuster Filibuster lasted 4 days First nomination to be blocked by filibuster Blocked by Senate for ethical concerns Associate Justice Clarence Thomas Appointed in 1991 by President George H.W. Bush Originally from Pin Point, GA Attended Yale Law Almost became a priest Goes camping all summer in his RV for NASCAR! 5
2/15/16 Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor Appointed in 2009 by President Barack Obama Originally from Bronx, NY Attended Yale Law First Hispanic on SCOTUS Saved baseball The Future of the Court 6