Records on Presidential Appointment of Federal Judges

The materials in FOIA 1998-0205-F are a selective, not necessarily all inclusive, body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 1998-0205-F regards the appointment of federal judges by the President. The FOIA is comprised of three distinct segments, each of which provides information about the appointment process during the Bush administration. The first set of records consists of the White House Office of Records Management 1998-0205-F 2 Subject File categories FG050 through FG062. These categories concern the federal courts, including the Supreme Court, and were processed systematically. Complete finding aids are available for each of the categories. No further discussion of these materials will be presented here. The second segment consists of files created by Lee S. Liberman, Associate Counsel to the President, and arranged by federal district courts and federal circuit courts. These files contain photocopies of many of the materials available in FG050 through FG062. The files are comprised of letters of recommendation, resumes, letters of nomination, press releases, and public mail relating to the selection of judges for the district or circuit courts. Also included in the files are nomination packets which contain recommendations to the President, the formal nomination documents, and information about each nominee. Supporting materials include reports on nominees' judicial decisions, as well as writing samples such as legal opinions. Letters of recommendation and resumes, by far, comprise the bulk of these materials. Also related to these materials are records concerning nominations to the Supreme Court. These files document the process of identifying and selecting candidates for the Supreme Court. Although mostly closed under Presidential Records Act and Freedom of Information Act restrictions, memoranda and lists provide information about possible nominees, the criteria used to select nominees, and background materials about each nominee. The third and final segment of this FOIA request consists of files maintained by Lee S. Liberman on nominees. Arranged alphabetically, the files pertain mostly to federal court nominees but also include some materials on United States Marshall nominees and other miscellaneous federal positions. The files include letters of recommendation, resumes, and the formal nomination documents. Most of the materials are photocopies. Additionally, the records include reports analyzing and discussing judicial decisions made by the nominees. Copies of legal opinions and law review articles by the nominees are also often included in the files. Read less