Opponents of the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court maintain that the nominee should be required to answer specific questions about his personal and philosophical beliefs . Yet the justice whom the nominee would replace took a firm stand against answering just such questions at his hearings in 1967 . Justice Marshall said " A justice is not required to use his own personal beliefs under any circumstances . This thought was expressed most eloquently by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D., Mass.), whose primary contribution to the Marshall hearings was elucidating the normative guidelines for senators. " At those hearings Senator Edward Kennedy stressed a central point both in the committee room and before the full Senate : The court is to assess qualifications ; it is not to examine political or judicial philosophy .
Opponents of the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court maintain that the nominee should be required to answer specific questions about his personal and philosophical beliefs . Yet the justice whom the nominee would replace took a firm stand against answering just such questions at his hearings in 1967 . Justice Marshall said " A justice is not required to use his own personal beliefs under any circumstances . " At those hearings Senator Edward Kennedy stressed a central point both in the committee room and before the full Senate : The court is to assess qualifications ; it is not to examine political or judicial philosophy .