Jesse J Holland

November 18, 2009 | Law.com

Since becoming the first Hispanic U.S. Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor has mamboed with movie stars, exchanged smooches with musicians at the White House and thrown out the first pitch for her beloved New York Yankees. A famous jazz composer even wrote a song about her: "Wise Latina Woman." Few Americans can name most of the justices, but Sotomayor has become a celebrity -- all without having made a single major decision at the nation's highest court.

By Jesse J. Holland

6 minute read

November 15, 2005 | Law.com

Twenty years ago, Samuel Alito was trying to catch the eye of Reagan administration officials looking to fill a political slot in the justice department. But the young conservative's boast about being "particularly proud" of his work helping to argue that "the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion" may now make his quest to join the Supreme Court more difficult. Republicans and Democrats are already planning to zero in on that statement at his confirmation hearings.

By Jesse J. Holland

5 minute read

January 24, 2006 | National Law Journal

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

January 26, 2006 | National Law Journal

Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito took a victory lap in the Senate on Wednesday, accepting congratulations from Republican leaders as lawmakers moved toward confirming him. Alito has enough support from 51 Republicans and Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska to assure his confirmation, and the rest of the chamber's Democrats showed little interest in a filibuster. Alito may be on his way to the most partisan Senate victory for a Supreme Court nominee in years.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read

March 04, 2005 | Law.com

U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle, an aide to former Sen. Jesse Helms, defended himself Thursday against Democratic accusations that he's unqualified for a seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The position has been beyond his reach for almost 15 years, since President George H.W. Bush first nominated him. Democrats have blocked Boyle's nomination, saying he has been reversed too many times and that he has been hostile to civil rights, women's rights and employee rights.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read

December 20, 2005 | National Law Journal

Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito will have to answer questions about how he views the president's powers in the war on terror, senators said Monday after the White House defended its orders of warrantless domestic spying. Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., and ranking Judiciary Democrat Patrick Leahy of Vermont sent separate letters to Alito listing specific questions they would ask him concerning the issue at his confirmation hearings beginning Jan. 9.

By Jesse J. Holland

3 minute read

February 12, 2003 | Law.com

Senate Democrats said Tuesday they will filibuster Miguel Estrada's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit until he reveals more of his judicial thinking. President Bush called the move "shameful politics." Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., accused Estrada of stonewalling Democrats last year when they questioned him about his nomination to the bench.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read

September 29, 2005 | Law.com

By a vote of 78-22, the Senate confirmed John Roberts Jr. as the 17th chief justice of the United States today. He replaces the late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, for whom he served as a clerk. Roberts is the first new Supreme Court justice since 1994. A swearing-in ceremony will take place today at the White House so Roberts can take his seat in time for the first arguments of the 2005-2006 Court term on Monday.

By Jesse J. Holland

6 minute read

February 28, 2005 | The Legal Intelligencer

Both political parties are to blame for the impasse on confirming President Bush's judicial nominees, said Arlen Specter, Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read

July 21, 2005 | National Law Journal

The possibility of a Democratic filibuster against Supreme Court nominee John Roberts in the Senate seemed to all but disappear Wednesday. The Senate's Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, said he had not heard any senators in his party mention filibustering President Bush's pick. "Do I believe this is a filibuster-able nominee? The answer would be no, not at this time I don't," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., a strong abortion-rights supporter and a Senate Judiciary Committee member.

By Jesse J. Holland

4 minute read