Barack Obama and the Highest Court in the Land
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President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor to the US Supreme Court, a Hispanic woman with 17 years of experience on the federal bench. Supporters emphasize her legal credentials and her common touch. Opponents call her "an activist judge." We hear both sides. Also, North Korea has followed up on yesterday's nuclear test by firing two short-range missiles today. We hear about reaction at the United Nations and get some assessment of what North Korea's leaders might be thinking. On Reporter's Notebook, California's State Supreme Court has upheld a ban on gay marriage. At the same time, it's upheld gay and lesbian marriages performed before Proposition 8 was passed by the voters.
Banner image: Nominee for Supreme Court Justice, Appeals Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, thanks US President Barack Obama (R) at the end of her address in the East Room of the White House. Photo: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images
Making News
Barack Obama and the Highest Court in the Land ()
President Obama this morning nominated Sonia Sotomayor to replace David Souter on the US Supreme Court. The daughter of Puerto Rican parents with a total of 17 years' experience on the federal bench was nominated to the US District Court by President George H.W. Bush, and promoted to the Federal Court of Appeals by Bill Clinton. Speaking of Sotomayor, the President observed that "she would bring more experience on the bench, and more varied experience on the bench, than anyone currently serving on the United States Supreme Court had when they were appointed."
Guests:
- Joan Biskupic: Reporter, USA Today
- Ed Whelan: President, Ethics and Public Policy Center
Links:
- Whelan on selection of Sotomayor to replace Judge Souter
- People for the American Way on nomination of Sotomayor
- Biskupic's article on selection of Sotomayor, first Hispanic nominee
- Jeffrey Rosen's (New Republic) article on the Sotomayor nomination
- Ricci v. DeStefano, US Court of Appeals on
- Ricci v. DeStefano, US Supreme Court on
- White House slide show of Sonia Sotomayor
Main Topic
North Korean Missile Test ()
Yesterday's nuclear test by North Korea got an angry response from the United Nations Security Council, even including China and Russia. After today's test of two short-range missiles, the US Ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, called North Korea's actions "provocative and destabilizing" and "a threat to international peace and security," and said the Security Council would pursue "a new resolution, a strong resolution with teeth."
Guests:
- Colum Lynch: UN Correspondent, Washington Post, @columlynch
- Geoffrey Forden: former Weapons Inspector, United Nations
- Mike Chinoy: Senior Fellow, Pacific Council on International Policy, @mikechinoy
Links:
Reporter's Notebook
California Supreme Court Rules on Proposition 8 ()
In May of last year, the California State Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. In November, the state's voters banned the practice by passing Proposition 8. In the meantime, 18,000 gays and lesbians were married. Today, the Court issued two controversial decisions. While it upheld the ban, it also upheld the same-sex marriages that took place between the Court's previous ruling and the passage of Prop 8. Maura Dolan covers the courts for the Los Angeles Times.
Guests:
- Maura Dolan: Reporter, Los Angeles Times, @mauradolan
Links:
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