What are Judicial Confirmation Hearings Good For?

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What purposes, exactly do these hearings serve? The candidates are instructed to say nothing controversial or reveal their actual views. Robert Bork tried to tell the Senators what he actually thought, and look where it got him. Scandals may pop up unexpectedly, as in the case of Clarence Thomas, who ultimately turned it to his advantage and won confirmation. But otherwise, the hearings tell us little about what the candidates would actually do once in office.

So what is the point of these hearings, other than an opportunity for dredging up potential scandals and giving the press and Washington, D.C. something to be distracted about?

Find out with Jack Balkin, Balkinization!

I love that blog.