Committee Resources

    The Standing Committee rates each nominee "Well Qualified," "Qualified" or "Not Qualified." Unanimous Committee ratings appear as a single rating. In other situations, the rating from the majority or substantial majority (constituting ten to thirteen votes) of the Committee is recorded first, followed by the rating or ratings of a minority of the Committee.The majority rating is the rating of the Committee.

    The Committee's Backgrounder

    The American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has been conducting independent peer evaluations of the professional qualifications of nominees to the federal bench since 1953.

    Summary of Evaluation Procedures for Supreme Court Nominees

    There are several procedural differences between the Standing Committee’s investigations of Supreme Court nominees and those of lower courts.

    Written Statements

    From time to time, the Standing Committee is asked by the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a confirmation hearing. The Standing Committee primarily testifies at hearings for Supreme Court nominees and in cases where the Standing Committee has rated a nominee "Not Qualified."

    View - Written Statements

    Ratings

    Ratings from the 101st Congress to the present are available on-line. New ratings are posted regularly.

    View - Ratings

    Government Resources