How Did Supreme Court Confirmation Battles Become So Contentious?

With a filibuster-proof 60 Democratic seats in the Senate, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has nothing to worry about. Unless the senators discover something completely unexpected and horrifying about her past, she will be the next Supreme Court justice. And yet she still faces heated opposition and rhetoric from the Republican minority.

How did Supreme Court confirmation battles become so contentious? And why do some nominees face loads of opposition while others sail through? TRNS Legal Affairs Correspondent Matthew S. Schwartz interviews various Supreme Court experts to try to figure out how things got quite so heated.

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Rep. Velázquez: Hispanic Community Proud Of Sotomayor

Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) says Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court is a historic moment for Latinos and Latinas. She says it gives them a sense of pride to see someone from their [Hispanic] community rise past so many obstacles and challenges and earn her place on the "highest court in the land." (0:23)
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"Daschle A Product Of The Rules Of Washington"

By Kayleigh Harvey -Talk Radio News Service

Fred Wertheimer, President and CEO of Democracy 21, made this comment today at a discussion on "Ethics in the Obama Administration - Are Washington's Rules Changing?"


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