Supreme Court Justices in the Post-Bork Era: Confirmation Politics and Judicial Performance (Teaching Texts in Law and Politics, Vol. 21)

The failed nomination of federal appeals court judge Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court led to conclusions that the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominees had been forever changed. Commentators speculated that future nominations would be characterized by intense media coverage, heavy interest group involvement, and the selection of either stealth nominees or non-controversial judicial moderates. This book examines the four subsequent nominations David Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer to assess whether the Bork episode has had this long-term impact. Supreme Court Justices in the Post-Bork Era also focuses on the justices actual performance on the Court in light of the confirmation process, and the author speculates about the future of Supreme Court confirmation politics. A slim book, clearly written, discussing the politics of appointment to the Supreme Court, in particular, the confirmation proceedings of Robert Bork (not confirmed), David Souter, Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer—and their subsequent behavior as members of the Court. Baugh (political science, Central Michigan U.) also investigates the role of media attention and interest group involvement and looks at the behavior of "stealth nominees" (who hold strong ideological beliefs that are not too evident from the public records). Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR Chapter 1 The Bork Confirmation Controversy 6 -- Chapter 2 David Souter: "A Home-Run for Conservatives?" 18 -- Chapter 3 Clarence Thomas: Dependable Conservative 40 -- Chapter 4 Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "A Judge's Judge and a Lawyer's Lawyer" 61 -- Chapter 5 Stephen Breyer: Pragmatic Moderate 81.