Task: Assume you are an advisor to the President on appointments to the Supreme Court. The Court has a five to four conservative majority. One justice who is conservative on issues like the death penalty, rights of criminal defendants, and abortion has just resigned.

1) Write a brief description of the background of the type of person you would like the President to nominate. Which characteristics are most important and why?

2) Assume you interview eight candidates (A-H) for the Supreme Court. Each has one of the characteristics listed below. Assume that each of the people listed is otherwise qualified to serve on the Court.

• Which candidate(s) are you most likely to consider? Explain your answer.
• Which candidate(s) would you disqualify? Explain your answer.

A) Seventy years old.

B) Female

C) Did drugs once ten years ago

D) Was a judge for ten years

E) Never was a judge

F) Is liberal

G) Is conservative

H) Is a good friend of yours

3) Should there be a set number of liberals and conservatives on the Supreme Court? Why or why not?

4) Should a variety of different ethnic, racial, and gender backgrounds have guaranteed seats on the Court? Why or why not?

5) Should there be any changes to the current system of selecting justices? Why or why not? If so, what would the change be?