Topic: David Souter

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 05/27

All Content

Can Congress force Supreme Court to let in cameras?

The Cameras in the Courtroom Act of 2011 would require TV coverage of all open sessions at the Supreme Court. Any legal challenge to the mandate would ultimately arrive at the Supreme Court – prompting a constitutional showdown.
Justice Sotomayor – not guilty of 'empathy'

During confirmation hearings in 2009, GOP senators questioned Sonia Sotomayor about her supposed 'empathy standard' and partiality. Since becoming a Supreme Court justice, her views on two capital cases show no cause for the concern, but rather attention to a fair legal process.
Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan wins second GOP vote: Richard Lugar

Sen. Richard Lugar becomes the second Republican to say he will support Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan. Sen. Lindsey Graham announced his support Tuesday.
The surprising star at Elena Kagan's hearing: Thurgood Marshall

Because Obama has avoided engaging the empathy debate, Republicans tried to use Kagan's mentor and former US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall as a way to taint Kagan's reputation.
Editorial Board Blog
Elena Kagan confirmation hearings: Do her politics really matter?

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan has rejected GOP claims that she'd be a liberal activist judge.
15 questions for Elena Kagan

Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan started answering questions from senators today. Here's what she can expect.
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 05/27
President Obama to nominate Elena Kagan to Supreme Court

Solicitor General Elena Kagan will be nominated Monday to the Supreme Court.
Obama, Biden interview Diane Wood for Supreme Court

President Obama and Vice President Biden separately interviewed Diane Wood, a federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School, on Tuesday for an opening on the Supreme Court. Judge Wood is the fourth candidate known to have had face-to-face talks with the president.
Filling John Paul Stevens Supreme Court vacancy big test for Obama

Replacing retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens depends largely on who President Obama nominates. But given Obama's political standing these days, confirmation by the Senate is unlikely to be quick and easy.
Stevens retirement gives Obama second Supreme Court pick

John Paul Stevens, the longest serving Supreme Court justice, plans to leave the bench in June. The Stevens retirement allows President Obama to name a second high court justice, opening the way for a likely confirmation battle.
Questions surround start of new Supreme Court term

How will Sonia Sotomayor vote? Is John Paul Stevens soon to retire? Will John Roberts and Samuel Alito be more unabashedly conservative? The term begins Monday.
Supreme Court to take up Chicago gun ban

The case challenging a handgun ban in Chicago will decide whether the individual right to bear arms upheld by the Supreme Court in a D.C. case last year applies to all states and cities, too.
Decoder Wire
So you wanna be a Supreme Court justice?

Here’s the simple but mysterious way to make the short list of candidates.
Supreme Court: a session of firsts Wednesday

There will be two new faces – and one familiar face in a different role.
With scant support for Sotomayor, did the GOP hurt itself?

Republicans need to attract more Hispanic voters. But just nine in the Senate approved the first Hispanic justice’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
Sotomayor on track to easy Supreme Court confirmation

At her confirmation hearings this week, any ideological slugfest was avoided as the nominee stayed low-key and judicial.
After 19 years, Souter and the Supreme Court part, with poetry

As the New Englander retires, he and Chief Justice John Roberts exchange warm letters of farewell – and a few verses of Robert Frost.
Firefighter ruling dials up heat on Sotomayor

The Supreme Court on Monday reversed a decision that she had made as part of a three-judge panel. The case centered on issues of race and discrimination.
The Ricci riddle and the law's limits

What you thought about the New Haven firefighters case was probably shaped less by logic or law than by your attitudes about the world.
Court rules for white firefighters, reversing Sotomayor panel

The Supreme Court rules 5 to 4 that officials in New Haven, Conn., violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act in throwing out the results of a promotion exam.
Supreme Court: Strip-search of 13-year-old girl was illegal

The decision sets the standard for how far school officials can go in conducting searches of students' property.
Supreme Court to convicts: No constitutional right to DNA testing

Conservative majority opinion limits prisoners’ chances to prove innocence.
GOP quandary: how hard to swing at Sotomayor

Republicans on Capitol Hill are acutely aware that the tone and content of the nominee's hearing could redefine the party after two punishing national elections.
The marketing of Sonia Sotomayor

She hasn't ruled on hot-button issues, which puts her in a middle position - for now, anyway.