The ABA’s qualification ratings historically shaped which judicial nominees won confirmation

Evidence

A final unofficial participant in the process of selecting federal judges has been the American Bar Association (ABA) through its Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary. Beginning in the Eisenhower administration (1953–1961), presidents submitted the names of prospective judges to the committee, which investigates their professional qualifications. The committee rated nominees from “exceptionally well qualified” to “not qualified,” and nominees who received a “not qualified” rating were rarely confirmed. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 473

Categorization

• DEFINE: Explains the ABA Standing Committee’s role as an unofficial gatekeeper in federal judicial selection.
• XREF: connects to: The ABA’s unofficial pre-screening role in judicial selection waxed and waned with presidential politics. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 681; The ABA lacks regulatory power yet wields influence as the profession’s recognized voice. — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1031; The ABA holds no formal authority yet wields informal power over judicial nominations — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 670

Broader Connections

• The ABA’s unofficial pre-screening role in judicial selection waxed and waned with presidential politics. #expands (0.92) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 681
• The ABA lacks regulatory power yet wields influence as the profession’s recognized voice. #expands (0.80) — G. Alan Tarr, Judicial Process and Judicial…, 1031