Certain judges. that s not the way conservative lawyers think about the role of judging. they think it s the start with the law, apply the law before them and see where it leads. it won t always lead to the result that a republican in the senate or white house might be rooting for. it will lead to a result that the law dictates. it will also sandra: these most recent decisions, gregg, gorsuch on monday sided with the liberal wing of the supreme court on giving a narrow majority in support of a native american man convicted for hunting in a national forest. kavanaugh opposed the ruling. expand on that. so a lot of these cases, the big headline tends to be about something that seems a little political. native american rights or the death penalty. often they turn on just statutory interpretation or mechanical legal issues. here there was a question about a treaty that existed before wyoming became a state and whether it should still be
And samuel alito, who both have strong ties to the group, to the supreme court, and both of president trump s supreme court picks, neil gorsuch and brett kavanaugh were members of the society. they published how the executive director, this man, leonard leo, has used a network of nonprofit groups funded by donors to promote conservative judges and causes. a new frontline documentary that airs tonight on pbs looks at how the federalist society and senate majority leader mitch mcconnell have worked to build a more conservative supreme court and how they have politicized the confirmation process. michael kirk produced and directed frontline report. he joins me now. michael, thank you for being with us and thank you for making this important documentary. the intense political polarization we saw with the brett kavanaugh supreme court nomination last year, it s sort
Base. here s one reason judge merrick garland was nominated by president obama in 2016 but never received a hearing or a vote in the united states senate. then one president trump won the election, neil gorsuch was nominated, confirmed, and sits on the supreme court. so there is some clear frustration. but an expert warns that adjusting the high court would be controversial. where does it end customer gift, say, president kamala harris adds two justices, the next republican president for eight years after that adds two more paid than you ve a constant cycle until we end up with 135 people on the supreme court. the term limits idea may be connecting with democrats frustrated that president trump s supreme court justices are likely to be on the high court for decades. harris? harris: mike emanuel, thank you very much for setting us up. some of of this 2020 democratic candidates also say they are open to abolishing the electoral college. especially after hillary clinton lost the 2
That s what i m talking about, the extreme stuff. tieing her to liberal democratic leaders is the centerpiece of hawley s campaign, seizing on her votes against both of president trump s supreme court candidates. that was a big deal? very big deal. because i think voters were so appalled by what they saw. just appalled by the smear campaign. she did say how she would vote before the hearing and all that. she was honest in saying she s voting against justice brett kavanaugh because he was a conservative. she said no because he has supported unlimited campaign cash. i would be a big critic if i voted for brett kavanaugh because of dark money. she needs to win in other ways, like on immigration. the impression he s giving missouri, that somehow the democrats are in favor of our border being overrun. i am not.
nancy pelosi, chuck schumer and the radical left from passing the social agenda. reporter: tying her to liberal leaders is the centerpiece of hawley s campaign, seizing on the votes of both of president trump s supreme court nominees. that was a big deal? very big deal. reporter: that could make the difference? i do. very big deal. reporter: in what way? i think voters were so appalled by what they saw and the smear campaign. she did say how she would vote before the hearing and all that. she wass honest saying she ws voting against him. reporter: she says she voted no because kavanaugh supported unlimited campaign cash. i would be a big hypocrite if i voted for him because of dark money. reporter: she s making an effort to connect with trump voters she needs to win in other ways like on immigration. the impression he s giving missouri missourians that the democrats are in favor of our border being