How Many Judges Did Obama Appoint to the Supreme Court?
During his presidency, Barack Obama faced numerous challenges, one of which involved reshaping the United States Supreme Court. President Obama’s tenure saw significant changes in the highest court of the land, culminating in the appointment of three justices who would shape American legal and constitutional history for years to come. In this article, we will explore the detail of how many judges Obama appointed and the impact of politics on the judicial appointments process.
The Process of Supreme Court Judgeships
When a presidential nominee for the Supreme Court is ready to be proposed, the nomination process begins. The President nominates a candidate, and the Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearings to evaluate the nominee. Subsequently, the full Senate votes on whether to confirm the nominee.
President Obama's Nominations
Out of the three judges that President Obama appointed, two were successfully confirmed, while one faced unprecedented opposition. Let's take a look at each nominee:
Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan, a seasoned lawyer and former dean of Harvard Law School, was nominated as the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by President Obama in 2010. Kagan was recommended to the President by the American Bar Association as a distinguished jurist and legal scholar. She faced confirmation hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which were largely uncontroversial. The United States Senate confirmed Kagan's appointment on June 28, 2010, marking the start of her distinguished service on the Court.
Sonia Sotomayor
Arguably one of the most well-known of Obama’s appointees, Sonia Sotomayor was nominated in 2009. Before her appointment, Sotomayor served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Her confirmation hearings were also relatively smooth, with Democrats strongly supporting her nomination. The Senate confirmed Sotomayor on August 6, 2009, becoming the first Latina justice to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Merrick Garland
President Obama’s third and final Supreme Court nomination was Merrick Garland. Nominated in March 2016, Garland, who was the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, had a solid reputation on the bench. However, his nomination faced significant challenges due to the political landscape of the time. The Senate Republicans, under the leadership of Mitch McConnell, announced that they would refuse to hold confirmation hearings for the nominee in the year of a presidential election, citing a supposed historical precedent. This move was widely criticized as politically motivated and unprecedented.
Consequences of the Senate Decision
The Senate's decision not to confirm Merrick Garland was a significant political move. The November 2016 election saw Trump win the presidency, and in the following year, the Senate held confirmations for Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch without waiting for the outcome of the election. This decision by the Senate Republicans had long-term consequences, including a partisan shift in the composition of the Supreme Court and ongoing debates about the role of the Senate in the judicial nomination process.
Conclusion
Barack Obama was successful in appointing two justices to the United States Supreme Court, namely Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor. Their contributions to the court provided a broader perspective on American law and justice. The unsuccessful nomination of Merrick Garland highlights the political nature of Supreme Court appointments and the impact of politics on the judiciary. Understanding the political dynamics that shape judicial appointments is essential for anyone interested in American law and politics.
Keywords: Obama Supreme Court Judges, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Merrick Garland