SC Appointment Process USP

Question 1

how did the appointment process for ketanji brown jackson go

Answer 1

• 53-47 vote
• scrutinised for judicial record and philosophy
• republicans questioned sentencing decisions in child pornography cases

Question 2

how did the appointment process for amy coney barrett go

Answer 2

• scrutinised over views on healthcare and abortion = showing more care over ideology than expertise
• rushed hearing (compared to merrick garland)

Question 3

how did the appointment process for brett kavanaugh go

Answer 3

• dominated by high school and college sexual assaults
• insanely polarised
• won nomination 50-48

Question 4

how did the appointment process for merrick garland go

Answer 4

• republican controlled senate
• leader Mitch McConnell argued that the next president should choose the vacancy
• PROVES politicisation of the appointment process

Question 5

how could the turnout for amy coney barrett’s nomination be seen as extremely polarising

Answer 5

first appointment since 1870 to receive no votes from opposing party

Question 6

what are the factors which influence the president’s choice of nominees

Answer 6

• ideological alignment
• potential for senate confirmation
• legal qualifications and experience
• demographic considerations for diversity
• current composition and needs of the court

Question 7

what are the strengths of the appointment process

Answer 7

• thorough scrutiny
• checks and balances
• used to promote diversity
• lifetime tenure insurance independence
• quasi-democratic

Question 8

what are the weaknesses of the appointment process

Answer 8

• extremely partisan
• unpredictability in vacancies
• contentious hearings
• perceived politicisation

Question 9

what are the key beliefs of conservative judges

Answer 9

• originalist = interpreting constitution as it was understood at the time of inception
• advocates for state rights
• limited federal government
• free market
• individual liberties
• skeptic toward progressive social policies and regulations

Question 10

what are the key beliefs of liberal judges

Answer 10

• living constitution approach
• affirmative action
• reproductive rights
• favour broad interpretations of rights and federal powers

Question 11

what were two land mark cases in the warren’s court WW2 - 1960s

Answer 11

• MIRANDA vs ARIZONA 1966
• BROWN vs BOARD O.E. 1954

Question 12

what was land mark case in the burger’s court 1960s - 80s

Answer 12

ROE vs WADE 1973

Question 13

what were two land mark cases in the roberts’ court 1980s - 2000s

Answer 13

DOBBS vs JACKSON

Question 14

recent rulings by the roberts court

Answer 14

• DOBBS vs JACKSON (abortion not a constitutional right)
• FULTON vs CITY OF PHILADELPHIA (city of phili violated first amendment right when catholic foster care agency refused to work with same-sex couple)
• NY STATE RIFLE vs BRUEN (callenged NY restrictive gun permit law)