Electing Justice: Fixing the Supreme Court Nomination Process

Davis discusses the increasing role of interest groups, the press, and the public, whose role is not prescribed in the Constitution, in the selection and confirmation of Supreme Court justices and how it affects the process. First he examines in detail the history and nature of the process, then he looks at the role and impact of other players. His conclusions about how non-political actors affect the outcome of Supreme Court justice selection leads him at the end of his book to suggest controversial reforms and their prospects for success.

Richard Davis is Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University. He is the author of The Web of Politics: The Internet's Impact on the American Political System, The Press and American Politics, 3rd edition, and Politics and the Media. He is co-author, with Diana Owen, of New Media and American Politics. He is also co-author, with Bruce Bimber, of Campaigning Online: The Internet in U.S. Elections, a book on the Internet's role in the 2000 elections.