Supreme Court Justice Confirmation; Substance Or Show

Roxboro House Roundtables

Listen to this Roundtable hosted by Arlen Specter Center research fellows, Jessica Schoenherr and Elizabeth Lane, of Michigan State University, as they discuss the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justice in the United States. Are these hearings “vapid and hollow charades,” as described by Associate Justice Elena Kagan, or are they important windows the minds of these future justices? Is the process a mere political spectacle held for the entertainment of the public, or are there serious political vetting processes? Finally, the panel discussed whether the confirmation process is even valid in today’s political climate.