Volume 33
Issue
2
Date
2020

A Case for Circumscribed Judicial Evaluation in the Supreme Court Confirmation Process

by Grant H. Frazier & John N. Thorpe

In today’s highly contentious judicial confirmation process, the American Bar Association—hardly a disinterested party—takes it upon itself to evaluate the qualifications of federal judicial nominees. The Senate often relies heavily on these evaluations, despite anecdotal evidence and empirical research showing strong political bias.

In an effort to reduce partisan obstructionism and mischaracterization of judicial nominees’ records, this Article proposes a change to the Senate’s process for providing advice and consent to the President for the confirmation of Supreme Court justices. We begin by analyzing the original meaning of the advice and consent process envisioned by the Appointments Clause. Then, we look at the contemporary judicial appointment process. Finally, we propose the creation of a non-partisan special judicial council, which the Senate could utilize in much the same way it currently relies on the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary. This judicial council would provide the Senate with an objective, analytical report regarding a nominee’s legal reasoning and writing, allowing senators to rely on information from experts in the qualifications of being a judge—judges themselves—rather than outsourcing that function to members of a trade organization who are themselves not experts on the qualifications in question and who face serious conflicts of interest based on their organization’ s political advocacy.

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