Colin McEnroe Show: The Nomination of Elena Kagan
Elena Kagan is being appointed to the Supreme Court, but is anyone watching?
Published: Jun 29, 2010
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Renny Fulco
Photo:Chion Wolf
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Colin McEnroe Show: The Nomination of Elena Kagan
Let us not forget that we were launched into the age of 24-hour news cycles by a Supreme Court confirmation hearing. The confirmation of Clarence Thomas was really the first event to test the capacities of multi-channel cable news to cover an unfolding drama loaded up with the three great American psychological tripwires: race and sex and Joe Lieberman.
That was one was preceded by the contentious Robert Bork hearings. Everything that has followed has been pretty dry, with the possible exception of Harriet Meiers, fizzling on the launch pad.
Still, we crane forward, hoping to catch a glimpse of something, anything that might open a window onto the heart and soul of a Supreme Court nominee. Because this is like adopting a parrot. It's a 25 or 30 year commitment. Today, Courtwatchers Renny Fulco and David Yalof will tell us what they see as the Kagan story unfolds.
You can join the conversation. Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin.
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Listener E-mail from Pete
Hi Colin:
Thanks for a most cogent and informative discussion of the Supreme Court confirmation hearing.
Listener E-mail from David
The phrase "activist judge" is often applied to actions by judges where it is claimed that they are "making law" instead of applying the law.
In fact, we hire judges to be activist and create law. The majority of law in the US is judge made - it is called the common law based on community values and fairness. Only a very small portion of our law is based on legislative statutes or constitutional law.
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