Lindsey Graham: Barring A Meltdown, Sotomayor Will Be Confirmed

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks to Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor during the first day of her confirmation hearings. Despite his criticism of the nominee he tells her, "Unless you have a complete meltdown, you're gonna get confirmed." (0:04)
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MOS: Philadelphian Says Sotomayor Represents Diversity Of U.S.

Raquel Toledo of Philadelphia, PA supports Judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court because she believes it will better reflect the makeup of the nation. (:08)
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SCOTUSblog Founder Tom Goldstein Discusses "Poisonous" Atmosphere of Court Nominations

Supreme Court nominations have become increasingly contentious in recent years. It seems that no matter how qualified a nominee is, he or she is going to face a passionate confirmation battle. Supreme Court expert Tom Goldstein joins TRNS Legal Affairs Correspondent Matthew S. Schwartz to discuss what he calls the "poisonous" atmosphere of Court nominations. Goldstein, a partner with Akin Gump, is a Supreme Court litigator, lecturer at Harvard and Stanford law schools, and founder of SCOTUSblog, a popular Web site focused on Supreme Court issues.

(13:08)
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Deputy Solicitor General Tells Funny Souter Anecdote

Neal Katyal, the Deputy Solicitor General of the United States, relates a funny anecdote about Justice David Souter, who has recently stepped down from the Supreme Court. The story relates how a man mistook Souter for another Justice in the countryside, and Souter led him along before informing him that Souter was the greatest judge on the court (0:57)

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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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Sen. Menendez Will Continue To Urge Swift Confirmation Of Sotomayor

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) says he'll continue to urge his colleagues to confirm Judge Sonia Sotomayor's appointment to the Supreme Court in a timely manner. He says the average number of days from nomination to confirmation for a Supreme Court Justice is 72 days and that he doesn't expect the situation to be any different for Sotomayor. (0:54)
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Sen. Menendez: Sotomayor Is Proof That The American Dream Is Within Reach

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) spoke out Tuesday in favor of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s Supreme Court nomination. Menendez says Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court is proof that the American dream is within reach for everyone who is "willing to work hard, play by the rules, and give back to their communities, regardless of their ethnicity, gender or social economic background." Menendez noted that it shows further proof of the deep roots the Hispanic community in the U.S. (0:12)


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Law Professor: Sotomayor Is A Capable Judge

By Annie Berman, Talk Radio News Service

With the recent announcement of Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the US Supreme Court, Annie Berman talks to Professor Gregory Magrarian of Washington University in St. Louis about her qualifications and the Republicans who criticize her legal opinions as being too liberal.

Magrarian believes that she is well qualified and that her liberal personal leanings should not interfere with her legal decisions, and thus should not stand in the way of her confirmation. (1:00)
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Obama Appoints Sotomayor To Supreme Court

President Obama announced the appointment of U.S. Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Sotomayor, who stands to be the first Hispanic Supreme Court nominee, will replace retiring Associate Justice David Souter (18:06)
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Holder: Diversity On Supreme Court Needed

Attorney General Eric Holder explains how he believes that the composition of the Supreme Court should reflect the rest of society. This means that their should be more minorities represented on the court. (0:25)
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Holder: Next Supreme Court Judge Ought To Be A Lawyer

Attorney General Eric Holder discusses the qualifications that he believes the next Supreme Court Justice will have. He believes that President Obama ought to choose a lawyer, but no necessarily a judge. (0:24)
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President Obama's announcement on Justice Souter

President Obama interrupts the White House press briefing to share an announcement about Justice Souter.

THE PRESIDENT:

The reason I'm interrupting Robert is not because he's not doing a good job -- he's doing an unbelievable job. But I just got off the telephone with Justice Souter. And so I would like to say a few words about his decision to retire from the Supreme Court.

Throughout his two decades on the Supreme Court, Justice Souter has shown what it means to be a fair-minded and independent judge. He came to the bench with no particular ideology. He never sought to promote a political agenda. And he consistently defied labels and rejected absolutes, focusing instead on just one task -- reaching a just result in the case that was before him.

He approached judging as he approaches life, with a feverish work ethic and a good sense of humor, with integrity, equanimity and compassion -- the hallmark of not just being a good judge, but of being a good person.

I am incredibly grateful for his dedicated service. I told him as much when we spoke. I spoke on behalf of the American people thanking him for his service. And I wish him safe travels on his journey home to his beloved New Hampshire and on the road ahead.


Now, the process of selecting someone to replace Justice Souter is among my most serious responsibilities as President. So I will seek somebody with a sharp and independent mind and a record of excellence and integrity. I will seek someone who understands that justice isn't about some abstract legal theory or footnote in a case book. It is also about how our laws affect the daily realities of people's lives -- whether they can make a living and care for their families; whether they feel safe in their homes and welcome in their own nation.

I view that quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles as an essential ingredient for arriving as just decisions and outcomes. I will seek somebody who is dedicated to the rule of law, who honors our constitutional traditions, who respects the integrity of the judicial process and the appropriate limits of the judicial role. I will seek somebody who shares my respect for constitutional values on which this nation was founded, and who brings a thoughtful understanding of how to apply them in our time.

As I make this decision, I intend to consult with members of both parties across the political spectrum. And it is my hope that we can swear in our new Supreme Court Justice in time for him or her to be seated by the first Monday in October when the Court's new term begins.
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Congressman Sestak On Arlen Specter

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Regarding Arlen Specter changing parties, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Penn.) said that it's better for the constituents of Pennsylvania to decide which candidate should win the primary. He feels like the Democratic National Party backing Specter may be giving him too much of an advantage in the Pennsylvania primary. President Barack Obama and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have already committed to personally supporting Specter in his 2010 election. (00:47)
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NAACP Legal Defense Fund on Voting Rights Act Challenger

Jay Goodman Tamboli speaks with Jeffrey Robinson, Senior Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, about today's Supreme Court arguments on the challenge the the Voting Rights Act. (8:32)
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Specter: The Democrats Asked Me To Join

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, a long time Republican, talks about the influences he had from Democratic leaders leading up to changing parties, speaking specifically about being influenced by Vice President Joe Biden and Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell. (00:33)
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Specter: The Extremists Are Taking Over

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter talks about the importance of having a moderate wing of each party, and how that played into his decision to defect to the Democratic Party. (01:30)
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Why Arlen Specter Changed Parties

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter talks about the process involved in deciding to leave the Republican party and join the Democrats. (00:40)
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Supreme Court: No Live Streaming Of Oral Arguments

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

In response to a question by Congressman John Culberson (R-TX), at the House Appropriations Committee Meeting on the Supreme Court budget for the fiscal year 2010, about whether the Supreme Court would consider showing posting video of their oral arguments on their website for the public to see, Justice Clarence Thomas said, "We have discussed that, and discussed it and discussed it." In concluding his point he hinted that their was disagreement amongst the Supreme Justices' on whether this change would be harmful to the institution.
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Justice Breyer Asks For New Courthouses

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

At a hearing of the House Appropriations Committee today on the Supreme Court budget for the fiscal year 2010, Justice Stephen Breyer told the committee that "If you do have a Judge you do have to have a courtroom and in Los Angeles there is a big hole in the ground," in response to a question from Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) on how Congress could help them with their workload.
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NAACP: Employers ought to be able to avoid discriminating against employees

John Payton, President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, speaks with Legal Affairs Correspondent Jay Goodman Tamboli about today's oral arguments in Ricci v. Destefano, regarding firefighters suing over alleged reverse discrimination in New Haven's refusal to certify qualifying exams for captain and lieutenant positions. (8:26)
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