A Houseboat Vacation and a Failed Courtship

How Sandra Day O’Connor made Reagan’s shortlist

Oct 15 • Ed Whelan

12

‘Time for a Woman’

Ronald Reagan’s 1980 campaign pledge runs into a harsh reality

Oct 8 • Ed Whelan

12

Jon Kyl’s Impact on Judicial Confirmations

On filibusters, Harriet Miers nomination, and more

Oct 1 • Ed Whelan

13

1

September 2026

How Betty Fletcher Won by a Day and Lost for Nineteen Years

Jockeying over seniority, mixed with a surprising oversight

Sep 24 • Ed Whelan

18

Antonin Scalia Prepares for His Confirmation Hearing

An insider’s account of choking up, running, eye rolling, and a smoking warning

Sep 17 • Ed Whelan

15

1

Did John Marshall Continue as Secretary of State?

No, as a curious scheme perpetrated by Thomas Jefferson helps show

Sep 10 • Ed Whelan

10

1

How a Vanishing Supreme Court Seat Led to John Marshall's Appointment

My disagreement with two scholars

Sep 3 • Ed Whelan

9

August 2026

The Kidney Stones that Made John Marshall Chief Justice

... and other serendipities

Aug 20 • Ed Whelan

20

1

Sonia Sotomayor's Confirmation Vote

... and a few more nuggets

Aug 13 • Ed Whelan

18

1

'Tea Party' Revolt Drives Votes Against Sotomayor

Republican senators try to ward off primary challenges

Aug 6 • Ed Whelan

14

1

July 2026

'How Doggone Stupid Do You Think I Am?'

An exasperated Orrin Hatch asks me about Sotomayor vote

Jul 30 • Ed Whelan

13

Sotomayor and Abortion, Part 2

Fighting over judicial ideology

Jul 23 • Ed Whelan

13

2

1