The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for conducting a hearing and formulating questions related to the nominee's personal and professional life. The FBI conducts a background investigation and reports its findings to the Committee.
After the Committee is satisfied it has gathered enough information to make an informed decision, the members vote whether to recommend approval or rejection (occasionally, the committee is divided in its opinion and makes no recommendation). Often, the vote has more to do with partisan politics than with the candidate's suitability as a justice.
Finally, the full Senate has an opportunity to question the nominee and then votes whether to confirm the nominee's appointment. Most are confirmed, although there have been a few instances in which the Senate voted against the candidate. The most recent Supreme Court rejection was that of President Reagan's nominee, Robert Bork, in 1987.
They hold the hearings to determine the nominees of the Supreme Court. There have been six nominees that the senate has rejected over the past sixty years through this process.
The Senate Judiciary Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee plays a crucial role in the nomination process for Supreme Court justices. It holds confirmation hearings for nominees, where they are questioned about their qualifications and views. The committee's recommendation, through a vote, can influence whether a nominee is confirmed. Additionally, the committee can affect the court through its oversight responsibilities, such as holding hearings on judicial actions or policy matters related to the court.
Congress can defeat presidential policy proposals, deny presidential budget requests, delay or reject presidential appointments, investigate executive agencies, hold committee hearings to spotlight improprieties, and generally immobize the executive branch. It can investigate and question nominees for the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary, it can legislate changes in the jurisdiction of the federal courts; and it can try to reverse court decisions by amending laws or the Constituion itself. The Congress can even threaten to impeach the president of federal judges.
Both nominees had supported segregation in the past
Both nominees had supported segregation in the past
Congress has to approve the US Supreme Court nominees.
The American Bar Association issues an opinion about the professional competence and qualifications of US Supreme Court nominees and potential nominees.
The US Senate confirms SCOTUS nominees.
Supreme Court nominees often evade questions related to ideology; how they would rule in hypothetical cases; state their opinion about controversial settled law; or indulge in conjecture that might unfairly effect their chance of confirmation.
The American Bar Association (ABA)
The man freed slaves. Thats a major one right there.