Opponents of the nomination of Clarence Thomas to Senate 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 1824 . Edward Kennedy said "A judge is not permitted to use his own personal views under any circumstances." At those hearings Senator Thurgood Marshall stressed a central point both in the committee room and before the full Senate : The the Supreme 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. Thurgood Marshall said "A judge is not permitted to use his own personal views under any circumstances." At those hearings Senator Edward Kennedy stressed a central point both in the committee room and before the full Senate: The Senate is to assess qualifications; it is not to examine political or judicial philosophy.