Class 2 Materials

Session 2. Choosing the Court: The Nomination Process

• Marbury v. Madison (Holdover from Session 1.)

• Greenhouse, ch.3 and 4

• Storm Center, ch. 2

• Supplementary Readings

  • • • New Addition: Presidents, Picking Justices, Can Have Backfires   (Added 9/15/25)

      • New Addition: Supreme Court Nominations, 1789 to 2020:  Actions by the Senate, the Judiciary Committee, and the President  (Added 9/15/25)

Questions:

1. How are nominees selected?

2. Was the nomination process once apolitical? Is it political now?

3. Who are the Justices?

4. Why was Merrick Garland not given a hearing in the Senate?