Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate

Hearings of Justice Stephen Breyer

President William Jefferson Clinton nominated Judge Stephen G. Breyer to the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States on May 13, 1994 to replace Justice Harry A. Blackmun who had retired. At the time of his appointment, Breyer was Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Boston (appointed by President Jimmy Carter).

Prior to his nomination, Breyer served as a law clerk to Justice Arthur Goldberg of the Supreme Court of the United States during the 1964 Term. From 1965–1967, Breyer served as a Special Assistant to the Assistant U.S. Attorney General for Antitrust. He was an Assistant Professor, Professor of Law, and Lecturer at Harvard Law School, 1967–1994, a Professor at the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, 1977–1980, and a Visiting Professor at the College of Law, Sydney, Australia and at the University of Rome. From 1980–1990, he served as a Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and as its Chief Judge, 1990–1994. Breyer also served as an Assistant Special Prosecutor of the Watergate Special Prosecution Force, 1973, as Special Counsel (1974–1975) and as Chief Counsel (1979–1980) of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee (which was chaired by Senator Kennedy). The United States Senate approved Breyer’s nomination by a vote of 87-9 on July 29, 1994.

Hearings of Chief Justice John Roberts

President George W. Bush nominated Judge John G. Roberts, Jr. to the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States following the death of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in 2005. Originally, Roberts had been nominated to replace Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as Associate Justice upon her retirement, but when Justice Rehnquist suddenly passed away, President Bush nominated Roberts for the position of Chief Justice.

At the time of his nomination, Roberts was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (appointed by President George W. Bush). Before that, from 1980-1981, Roberts had been a law clerk for then-Associate Justice William H. Rehnquist, following a year as a law clerk for Judge Henry Friendly of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He was Special Assistant to the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice from 1981–1982, Associate Counsel to President Ronald W. Reagan, White House Counsel’s Office from 1982–1986, and Principal Deputy Solicitor General, U.S. Department of Justice from 1989–1993. From 1986–1989 and 1993–2003, he practiced law in Washington, D.C.

His hearing, although relatively uncontroversial, drew attention when Roberts continually refused to answer questions pertaining to his personal beliefs and his opinions on key issues such as gay rights and the role of the Executive Branch.

Justice Roberts was ultimately confirmed by the United States Senate by a vote of 78 -22 on September 29, 2005.

Hearings of Justice Samuel Alito

Judge Samuel Anthony Alito was nominated for the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by President George W. Bush in 2005 to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor who had retired. At the time, Alito was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (appointed by President George H. W. Bush). Alito served as a law clerk for Leonard I. Garth of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit from 1976–1977. Alito was Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey, 1977–1981, Assistant to the Solicitor General, U.S. Department of Justice, 1981–1985, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, 1985–1987, and U.S. Attorney, District of New Jersey, 1987–1990.

Alito’s hearings centered on Roe v. Wade and other divisive issues. Alito refused to answer any questions on these topics. The United States Senate would ultimately confirm Alito by a vote of 52-48 on January 31, 2006, the narrowest margin in modern history after Justice Clarence Thomas.

Hearings of Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Judge Sonia Sotomayor was nominated for the position of Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by President Barack Obama in 2009 to replace Justice David Souter who had retired. Born in the Bronx, she would be the first Hispanic and the third female nominated to the Court following Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. At the time, Sotomayor was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (from 1998, appointed by President Clinton). Before that, she was a judge on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (appointed by President George H. W. Bush). Sotomayor had served as Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office from 1979–1984. She then litigated international commercial matters in New York City at Pavia & Harcourt where she served as an associate and then partner from 1984–1992.

The United States Senate confirmed Justice Sotomayor by a vote of 68-31 on August 6, 2009, with Senators voting primarily along party lines.

President Obama Supports the Edward M. Kennedy Institute

President Obama shares his memories of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, his legislative accomplishments, and his love for the U.S. Senate, at an Institute event in Washington, D.C., on October 14, 2009.