Federal Judge Selection
Process and Participants
The framework of judicial selection is the same for all Federal judges, although the roles of the participants vary depending on the level of the U.S. Judiciary. All nominations are made by the President after due consultation with the White House staff, the Attorney General’s office, certain Senators, and other political operatives. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an arm of the Justice Department, customarily performs a routine security check. After the nomination is announced to the public, various interest groups that believe they have a stake in the appointment may lobby for or against the candidate. Also, the candidate’s…
