Politicians must pick sides regularly; every time they vote. So it's perhaps natural that they see the world as a battle between competing groups.

No judicial nomination should answer any question that is designed to reveal how the nominee will rule on any issue that could come before the court.

Politicians must let voters know what they think about issues before the election. Judges should not.

That claim was not intended to be a factual statement.

It would be hard to find a more compelling example of the American dream than Alberto Gonzales.

The only relevant side is that of the law and the Constitution. We do great injury to the integrity of the court system when we start speaking of sides and stop devoting ourselves to the pursuit of impartial justice.

Our courts provide a neutral forum for the adjudication of disputes under the law, not based on economic or political power, on race, on sex or any other personal characteristics.