SCOTUS 4EVR

When you think about the Supreme Court, you probably think, OLD. But current SCOTUS nominee Brett Kananaugh is only 53. Since 2000, what has been the average age of a nominee to the Supreme Court?

1. How accurate was your prediction?

2. What has happened to the age of SCOTUS nominees over the past century?

3. Why do you think that is?

4. What is consequence of this change?

5. A newborn would be too young (although not according to the Constitution) to be on the SCOTUS, a 99 year-old would be too old (although, again, not according to the Constitution). What is the Goldilocks - just right - age for the Supreme Court of the United States? In other words, if you were a POTUS picking a SCOTUS nominee, what age range would the perfect nominee come from?

6. According to Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution, who gets to nominate members of the Supreme Court?

7. Why don't POTUSs pick 20 year olds for the Supreme Court?

8. Could POTUS Trump legally pick Ariana Grande to be a member of SCOTUS?

9. According to the United States Constitution, what are the requirements for becoming a member of the SCOTUS?

10. According to the words of the Constitution, what is the job of the Senate in approving SCOTUS nominees?

11. What qualities are most necessary to be appointed to SCOTUS?

12. Currently, what is the lifespan of the average Supreme Court member?

13. Currently, what is the average tenure of a member of the Supreme Court of the United States?

14. Don't forget the GoPo naming contest we started yesterday in honor of not-Justice Bork: Take a famous politician (Ryan, Trump, McConnell, Pelosi, Obama, Schumer) and make a verb out of their name. Write a sentence using their name as a verb and post it in the comments section below. The "best" sentence (by either a student or a teacher) will win a $10 Amazon gift card.*

Learning Extension

Read this NY Times Upshot article about why Supreme Court Justices are serving longer than ever.

Action Extension

Watch some of the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings/Circus, contact your U.S. Senator and tell them whether you think they should approve Kavanaugh's nomination.

*Contest rules - I determine what "best" means! I will accept answers through Sunday, September 9th, 2018 by 8:32 pm.