The Nation : Rehnquist Faults Judicial Confirmation

Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist criticized the Senate’s judicial confirmation process, saying that lawmakers expected judgeship nominees to give instant answers to complex constitutional questions. Speaking before the Bicentennial Australian Legal Convention in Canberra, Australia, Rehnquist said nominees are not computers, “all primed to spew out answers when the proper button was pushed.” The text of the chief justice’s address was released in Washington by the Supreme Court. Rehnquist said a judge “is not measured by his capacity to come up with instant answers to impromptu questions,” but by his ability to make a decision based on “real life facts” and lengthy study of the law. Rehnquist was especially critical of the process used to interrogate defeated Supreme Court nominee Robert H. Bork. Rehnquist did not suggest how hearings should change.