WASHINGTON, D.C., May 28, 2010 — The confirmation hearing for Elena Kagan to be an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court begins June 28. The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary makes a unique contribution to the vetting process by conducting an extensive, confidential peer review of the nominee’s professional competence, integrity and judicial temperament.

Kim Askew, chair of the standing committee, will provide a briefing for members of the media regarding the ABA’s role in evaluating Supreme Court nominees.

How do members of the ABA’s standing committee keep their personal political slant out of the process? Do association policies influence standing committee evaluations? Does the standing committee strive for political, ideological, geographical, gender or other “balance” on the court? What significance does the standing committee ascribe to a nominee’s age, trial experience or other characteristics? Why does the standing committee have a unique role in the process? These and other issues will be addressed.

A question and answer period will follow Askew’s comments.

What: ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary Media Briefing Remarks by Kim Askew, chair of the standing committee

When: June 2 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Where: ABA Washington Office 740 15th Street, N.W. 9th Floor

Press will also have the opportunity to meet Alicia Torres, new ABA Media Relations and Communication Services Division director.

Light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Please RSVP to 202/662-1090, as individuals entering the building after 5 p.m. will need prior clearance for admission. If you have questions, please contact Tina Lanier at tlanier@staff.abanet.org or 202/662-1792.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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