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Judges Vs Federal Judges Essay

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Federal Judges and Supreme Court Justices

The process for electing a federal judge is both a simple, yet complicated one. A number of things take place between the need for a nominee and the appointment to a position. The basis for the nomination and appointment of federal judges and Supreme Court Justices is the Appointments Clause (Article II, Section 2, Clause 2) of the United States Constitution:

“The President...shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law....”

First a vacancy must be present at which time the President can make a nomination. Once the nomination is made, the Senate Judiciary Committee performs a background investigation with the FBI to review public record and professional credentials along with an investigation of the nominee’s private background to include financial affairs by the Justice Department. Next they hold a confirmation hearing in order to hear testimony about the nominee and for the members of the committee to ask any questions they may have. Once all the …show more content…

The confirmation hearings and process is significantly more public and invasive for someone being nominated to the Supreme Court. One of the main reasons is that the Justices of the Supreme Court will likely shape the way the Constitution is interpreted for 10-20 years after they are appointed. Like all other federal judges, they are appointed to their position for life terms. There have been 154 nominees and 120 appointments in the history of our country to the Supreme Court. The two most recent Justices were appointed by President Obama in 2009 (Sotomayor) and 2010

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