What are the major factors the president considers when selecting a Supreme Court nominee?

What will be an ideal response?

The President will tend to have two major goals in selecting a nominee. First, the person will reflect his political and policy views; a liberal president will want to make liberal appointments and vice versa. The president will also want to select an individual who is perceived as competent and knowledgeable and will be able to make it through a daunting confirmation process. He may rely on ratings by the ABA or Federalist Society (for Republicans) for this step. Students might also mention demographic factors such as age, gender, religion, or race, as well as considering how difficult/easy it will be to get a particular candidate through the Senate confirmation process.