Justice Questions Way Court Nominees Are Grilled.

[elleng]

Justice Anthony Kennedy decried the way some senators question Supreme Court nominees, defended President Barack Obama's pursuit of empathetic judges and rebutted the idea of activist courts in a speech Friday in south Florida.

Kennedy said the Senate should not try to determine how high court nominee Elena Kagan would rule on specific issues, but should focus broadly on whether she has the qualities of a good judge.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/05/14/us/AP-US-Supreme-Court-Kennedy.html?_r=1


He recalled a lighthearted conversation with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in which he noted he was the only member of the court from the West Coast, though there are already three from New York: Brooklyn-born Ginsburg; Queens-raised Antonin Scalia; and Bronx native Sotomayor.

If confirmed, Manhattan-born Kagan would be the fourth New Yorker on the current court.

''I said, you know, this isn't fair,'' he recalled. ''And she said, 'Oh no, we have Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn. We need Manhattan.'''

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. Didn't Kagan herself previously describe the hearings as "'Vapid and Hollow Charade"?

"In 1995, after spending time as a staff lawyer on the judiciary committee during the nomination of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Kagan made clear her frustrations, 'When the Senate ceases to engage nominees in meaningful discussion of legal issues, the confirmation process takes on an air of vacuity and farce.'"

Seems to me that Kagan would welcome any discussions about specific legal issues... ? :shrug:

[elleng]

2. She did.

and she herself would likely welcome meaningful discussion. Politics of the day may or may not allow for it.

[monmouth]

3. Little Jeffy Sessions sure won't. He is insufferable...n/t

[katandmoon]

4. That was then...this is now

The White House Monday said that Supreme Court nominee won’t follow her own advice from 1995 in answering questions on specific legal cases or issues, supporting Kagan’s flip flop on the issue that she first made a year ago.

Kagan wrote in 1995 that the confirmation process had become a “charade” because nominees were not answering direct questions, and said they should have to do so.

But during a briefing with reporters in the White House, Ron Klain, a top legal adviser to Vice President Joe Biden who played a key role in helping President Obama choose Kagan, said that she no longer holds this opinion.

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2010/05/10/elena-kagan-no-longer-thinks-supreme-court-nominees-should-have-to-answer-direct-questions/#ixzz0nwQuZC7D

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

5. Flip flopping... a time honored tradition. She'll make a fine figure in politics.

[elleng]

6. Also known as changing one's mind,

as circumstances change. A time honored tradition in LIFE.

[katandmoon]

7. True -- It's flipflopping only when it's the OTHER party doing it.

[elleng]

8. 'Flip-Flop' is a foolish characterization,

made up by repugs who in their wisdom do excellent 'spin.' We ALL change our minds.

[bemildred]

9. Well, let's admit it, most of the Senate are mediocre posturing buffoons.

But we elected them. And then they provided us with the current USSC.