Supreme Court Nominations

Jim_Are_Great

With Justice Souter retiring in the US, the usual flare of jurisprudential passion has once more swept over Americans. I always wondered why supreme court appointments are so comparatively quiet in Ireland. I don't even remember a headline when Hardiman was appointed. Why do Irish people care so little about their court?

Tom Young

I think that is a matter of opinion. Many folks do actually care who accedes to the bench in Ireland at all levels. District, Circuit, High and Supreme. The JAAB recommends appointees to the government and the selection is made from a pool of recommended candidates and put forward by the minister for appointment by government.

Tom

Jim_Are_Great

But I never remember there being the same level of heated public debate here as there is in the US.

Tom Young

Yes, judges are not elected [technically] - They aren't in the US either - save for senate vote on nomination. I guess there might be more political focus or 'leaning' focus (that being Conservative, Liberal or centrist) on the make-up of the SC in the US, given we've now have 8 years of Republican Rule the composition of the SC in the US is now: split. Souter was seen as a liberal justice.

I don't agree with the concept of public debate on judicial appointment, as it is already being done by the elected body or government.

Tom

_JOE_

I have always found the process very interesting...such appointments are very important in the US, considering the make up of the court...i reckon Souter was waiting on a liberal to become president before he retired, as the Supreme court is already conservative since Roberts' accession to the bench...

A book i thoroughly enjoyed was THE NINE; Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court By Jeffrey Toobin