America and the Courts

On Tuesday September 5, Washington Post Supreme Court reporter Charles Lane talked about the campaign finance case McConnell v. Federal Election Commission, which would be heard the following Monday by the Supreme Court. He outlined the law, the legal case, and the profiles of the eight lawyers involved. The case had several unique aspects. The court held a special session in order to hear the case, and allowed 4 hours for oral arguments. The two central and contested elements of the law were the regulation of "soft money", formerly unregulated donations to political parties, and regulations on "issue ads", advertisements indirectly supporting or attacking a candidate, which run in the last few days of a campaign by groups not officially affiliated with either candidate.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) held a press conference on the withdrawal of judicial nominee Miguel Estrada. Senate Republicans also reacted to the announcement of the withdraw close