1. Is Merrick Garland qualified to be a Supreme Court justice?

2. The Supreme Court decides a case 5-4. What opinions must be written?
Majority – The majority, the ruling opinion of the court. Dissenting – Justices that disagree with the majority. Concurring – A justice agrees with the outcome, but not the rationale of the majority. Plurality – When there is no majority, this is the controlling opinion of the court. Per Curiam – An unsigned opinion

3. A Woll review:
Woll 69 – What is the difference between procedural and substantive self-restraint?
Woll 71:
What three types of cases does the Supreme Court usually accept?
What determines the order of seating around the conference table?
How are opinions assigned?
Do justices ever change their minds when opinion writing?

4. The Special Courts

5. Judicial Appointments
It’s You are a Senator on the Judiciary Committee. Do you approve the appointment of this guy to the Supreme Court?

6. Of course you do. Welcome aboard Justice Thomas.

7. Why has President Obama name Sonya Sotomayor and Elena Kagen to the Supreme Court?

8. How Federal Court Judges Are Selected
The selection of judges is a very political process.
The President nominates Supreme Court justices, as well as federal court judges, who are then subject to the approval of the Senate.
Most federal judges are drawn from the ranks of leading attorneys, legal scholars and law school professors, former members of Congress, and State courts.

9. Federal Selection Process
President
Dept. of
Justice
Senators
American Bar
Association
Interest Groups
Senate
Jud. Comm.
Senate

10. Term and Pay Term – Life, can only be removed through impeachment.
Pay – Chief Justice $260,000, Associate Justices $249,000, Court of Appeals $214,000, District Court $203,000

11. What does the President look for in a judge?
No constitutional qualifications
Competence
Ideology (conservative or liberal)
Policy Preferences
Rewards
Pursuit of Political Support
Religion
Race and gender

12. Is Merrick Garland qualified to be a Supreme Court justice?