Are partisan fights over Supreme Court nominees a recent phenomenon?
Thursday, October 29, 2020
By Allegra Taylor
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NO
Numerous Supreme Court nominations have been contentious since the court was first established. Of the 164 nominees in U.S. history, only 127 have won Senate confirmation.
In 1795, the Senate rejected George Washington’s choice for Chief Justice, John Rutledge, after he delivered a speech condemning a treaty with Britain, which the Senate had supported.
In 1930, nominee John Parker was rejected after outside groups unearthed controversial statements he'd made about unions and Black political involvement. The rejection was fueled in part by resentment toward Herbert Hoover.
In 1987, nominee Robert Bork was rejected after pushback by liberal groups. In 2005, Harriet Miers's nomination was withdrawn in the face of bipartisan opposition.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
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