I don't think we need political activists on the Supreme Court or any other level of court.
I was driven years ago to the conclusion that political considerations had not hurt the character of appointments here [the supreme court].
If I were the president, I would be very concerned... and I would do what was reasonably necessary to find a way to get my people confirmed.
If you're president, it's often your court appointments that seal your legacy with a capital L.
I think the Senate ought to realize that I have to have about me those in whom I have confidence; and unless they find a real blemish on a man, I do not think they ought to make partisan politics out of appointments to the Cabinet.
The American people should be the one to decide which direction the Supreme Court will go.
President [Barack] Obama, it took him a number of days to do [appointments to Administration] and it took former President Bill Clinton even longer.
Conservatives who care about nominations of judges who practice judicial restraint are, constitutionally, restrained people themselves.
The American people have made clear that they want justices who have proven records of judicial restraint - exactly the kind of justices that Obama and Biden cannot abide.
Of course the law's up for grabs. That's why you win elections and appoint judges.
While the seeming independence of the federal judiciary has played a vital part in making its actions virtual Holy Writ for the bulk of the people, it is also and ever true that the judiciary is part and parcel of the government apparatus and appointed by the executive and legislative branches.
Thank God, under our Constitution there was no connection between Church and State, and that in my action as President of the United States I recognized no distinction of creeds in my appointments office.
