Jesse J Holland

July 15, 2005 | National Law Journal

Four female senators -- two Democrats and two Republicans -- called Thursday for retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to stay on and try for chief justice if the ailing William Rehnquist relinquishes his spot. The senators' comments follow those by Senate Judiciary Committee leaders, who first publicly stoked speculation about a possible O'Connor candidacy.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read

May 27, 2005 | Law.com

Blocked judicial nominees Richard Griffin and David McKeague, who were cleared for confirmation by this week's Senate compromise on filibusters, got quick approval for 6th Circuit seats Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democrats had been blocking Griffin and McKeague at the request of Michigan's two Democratic senators -- but they agreed not to hold up the nominations anymore as part of the discussion over the use of judicial filibusters.

By Jesse J. Holland

2 minute read

June 17, 2005 | Law.com

The GOP-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday sent Terrence Boyle's 4th Circuit nomination to the full Senate for confirmation on a party-line vote, leaving him vulnerable to a possible Democratic filibuster. Boyle, a North Carolina federal judge, has been trying to win an appeals court seat since 1991, when he was nominated by the first President Bush. Boyle's critics say he has been reversed by higher courts too many times and has ruled unfairly on civil rights issues.

By Jesse J. Holland

2 minute read

September 06, 2005 | Law.com

For John Roberts, getting ready for this week's Senate hearings on his nomination to the Supreme Court was a lot like appearing as a lawyer before the high court: copious amounts of reading and rehearsing answers to any conceivable question that might be fired at him. Roberts' experience in 39 appearances before the Court will be key, said Supreme Court historian David Garrow. "He's likely to fly though this without anyone laying a fingernail on him," Garrow added.

By Jesse J. Holland

5 minute read

April 29, 2009 | New York Law Journal

By Jesse J. Holland And Tony Mauro

8 minute read

January 06, 2006 | Law.com

In the latest tactical battle over high court nominations, Senate Democrats plan to delay the Judiciary Committee's vote on Samuel Alito's nomination to the Court, slowing what could have been a quick confirmation process for President Bush's pick to succeed Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid told Majority Leader Bill Frist on Thursday that Democrats will invoke their right to hold the Alito committee vote over for one week, Senate leadership aides told The Associated Press.

By Jesse J. Holland

5 minute read

April 21, 2005 | Law.com

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's newest target among the federal judiciary is Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, whom DeLay criticized Tuesday for decisions based on international law. DeLay added it was "incredibly outrageous" that Kennedy apparently does his own research on the Internet. DeLay also labeled other Republican appointees "judicial activists," referring to how strictly they interpret the Constitution. DeLay has been critical of the federal courts since the Terri Schiavo case.

By Jesse J. Holland

3 minute read

February 15, 2005 | Law.com

President Bush on Monday sent the Senate 20 judicial nominees, including several who were blocked in his first term. "The president looks like he is still more interested in picking fights than picking judges," said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass. Democrats still have the 40 votes necessary to uphold a filibuster, but Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has threatened to try to change Senate rules to force confirmation votes if Democrats carry out their filibuster threats.

By Jesse J. Holland

3 minute read

January 24, 2006 | Law.com

Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Jr. heads into the first vote of his high court candidacy with victory assured today in a Senate committee, but Democratic opponents are still working to dampen his support in the full Senate. After the committee votes, Alito's nomination goes to the full Senate for a final vote later this week. Republicans want Alito on the Supreme Court before President Bush gives his State of the Union address on Jan. 31.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read

February 18, 2005 | The Legal Intelligencer

Congress yesterday passed legislation that would transfer most large, multistate class action lawsuits to federal court, fulfilling one of President Bush's second-term goals.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read