Dahlia Lithwick, Senior Editor for Slate.com, Jeffrey Toobin, CNN Legal Correspondent, and Adam Liptak, New York Times Supreme Court Correspondent, share their views on the confirmation process for Supreme Court Justices in light of Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings.

Discussion Questions

1. Summarize the confirmation process for judges nominated to the Supreme Court. Which Article and Section of the U.S. Constitution addresses the nomination process? Use C-SPAN's Justice Sonia Sotomayor Confirmation Process page to watch video of Justice Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings.
2. Why does Ms. Lithwick describe Supreme Court confirmation hearings as “embarrassment on ice”? What changes to the confirmation process does she propose?
3. Mr. Toobin mentions Robert Bork. Who is he, and why does Mr. Toobin believe his confirmation hearing affected future nomination hearings? How does Mr. Toobin link the Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade to confirmation hearings? Click here for a clip on oral arguments from Roe v. Wade.
4. What is Mr. Liptak’s view on the media’s role in the confirmation process? How does he support this view?