Ginsburg Standard Vs. Dean Standard
THE HOWARD DEAN STANDARD
Dean Attacked Roberts For Not Answering Questions:
DNC Chairman Howard Dean: "Despite His Refusal To Answer Basic Questions About His Views And Record, John Roberts Is Set To Begin His Lifetime Appointment As Chief Justice Of The Supreme Court." (Democrat National Committee, "Dean Statement on Senate Vote On Judge Roberts," Press Release, 9/29/05)Dean Even Said To Be Prepared For Unprecedented Filibuster Of Next Supreme Court Nominee:
"In An Interview, [DNC Chairman Howard] Dean Said Democratic Unity Is Essential In The Upcoming Battle And That The Party 'Absolutely' Should Be Prepared To Filibuster -- Holding Unlimited Debate And Preventing An Up-Or-Down Vote -- Bush's Next High Court Nominee, If He Taps Someone They Find Unacceptably Ideological." (Dan Balz and Amy Goldstein, "Filibuster Showdown Looms In Senate," The Washington Post, 9/28/05)
· Dean: "A Fight To The Death Is A Filibuster, Which Is The Only Way We Can Reject An Unqualified Nominee -- Because The Republicans Don't Seem To Have Any Qualms About Putting Unqualified People In All Manner Of Positions All Over The Government." (Dan Balz and Amy Goldstein, "Filibuster Showdown Looms In Senate," The Washington Post, 9/28/05)
THE JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG STANDARD
Ginsburg Applauded Roberts For Abiding By Ginsburg Precedent:
"[Justice Ginsburg] Said She Agreed With A Position Taken By Federal Judge John G. Roberts During His Confirmation Hearing To Replace The Late Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist. Roberts Invoked Ginsburg When He Refused To Speculate On How He Would Rule In Cases Before The Court." (Estes Thompson, "Justice Ginsburg Says She'd Prefer Another Woman On Court," The Associated Press, 9/29/05)
- Ginsburg: "Judge Roberts Was Unquestionably Right ... My Rule Was I Will Not Answer A Question That Attempts To Project How I Will Rule In A Case That Might Come Before The Court." (Estes Thompson, "Justice Ginsburg Says She'd Prefer Another Woman On Court," The Associated Press, 9/29/05)
- Ginsburg: "'A Judge On A Collegial Court Should Never Forecast How He Or She Would Vote On Particular Issues' Because During The Decision-Making Process A Justice Is Exposed To Briefs, Lawyers' Arguments And Discussions With Other Justices ..." (Estes Thompson, "Justice Ginsburg Says She'd Prefer Another Woman On Court," The Associated Press, 9/29/05)
Ginsburg Even Answered A Lesser Percentage Of Questions Than Roberts During Senate Hearings:
Of The 275 Questions Asked, Judge Ginsburg Only Answered 216 Of Those Questions (79 Percent). (Transcript Of Hearings On The Nomination Of Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 7/20/93 - 7/22/93)
· Of The 574 Questions Asked, Judge Roberts Has Answered At Least 510 Of Those Questions (89 Percent). (Transcript Of Fourth Day Of Hearings On The Nomination Of Judge John Roberts, Committee On The Judiciary, U.S. Senate, Hearing, 9/15/05)
