May 26 Key Player: Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. By Admin, PBS News Hour When Sen. Arlen Specter switched parties in April 2008, Sen. Jeff Sessions became the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, bringing a more conservative voice to the hearings vetting President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominees. Continue reading
May 26 Q&A: Supreme Court Confirmation Process By Admin, PBS News Hour President Barack Obama has nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor to replace Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court - the first step in the often contentious Senate confirmation process. Continue reading
May 26 Sotomayor Followed Unlikely Path to the Door of the Supreme Court By Admin, PBS News Hour In nominating Sonia Sotomayer, a federal appeals judge in New York, to replace retiring Justice David Souter, President Barack Obama called her an inspiring woman with an extraordinary life journey. Continue reading
May 26 Highlights of Past Supreme Court Nominees By Admin, PBS News Hour The process of nominating and confirming Supreme Court justices is one of the cornerstones of the Constitution's separation of powers. The nomination process involves a unique interplay of legal, political and personal considerations. Continue reading
May 26 Key Player: Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. By Admin, PBS News Hour Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy, 69, is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Leahy and the now-ranking GOP member of the committee, Jeff Sessions of Alabama, will be responsible for overseeing the upcoming Supreme Court nomination hearings. Continue reading
May 26 Watch Obama Nominates Sotomayor to Be Court’s First Hispanic Female Justice Judy Woodruff recaps President Obama's announcement of his nomination of Federal Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Continue watching
May 26 Watch Sotomayor Nomination Sparks Debate on Role of Justices Following President Obama's nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, a federal appeals court judge, to the Supreme Court, analysts debate her record and her confirmation road ahead. Continue watching
May 22 Watch Shields and Brooks Mull Security Debate, Supreme Court Fight Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the impact of President Obama and former Vice President Cheney's security policy speeches and the buildup to the president's announcement of a Supreme Court pick. Continue watching
May 18 Watch Supreme Court Turns Back Detainee Lawsuit Against Mueller, Ashcroft In a 5-4 ruling, Supreme Court said Monday that FBI Director Robert Mueller and former Attorney General John Ashcroft can't face a lawsuit launched by a former terrorism detainee. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal recaps the ruling and… Continue watching
May 13 Watch Senators Expect Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee ‘Soon’ President Barack Obama met Wednesday with key senators to discuss the selection of a Supreme Court nominee to succeed retiring Justice David Souter. Ray Suarez speaks with representatives from three groups trying to influence his nomination. Continue watching