Robert H. Bork, who once hoped for a Supreme Court seat, instead stood before the nation's highest court Monday. He was there in the capacity of a lawyer _ apparently making him the first defeated Supreme Court nominee ever to argue before the justices. Representing Citibank in a big-stakes battle, Bork argued that U.S. banks with branch offices overseas should not be required to pay depositors after foreign governments seize or freeze those accounts. The Senate rejected Bork's nomination to the high court in 1987 after a bitter political battle. He was branded a conservative extremist by opponents. Bork, nominated by then-President Reagan, has said he was the victim of a campaign of lies and distortions led by liberals. There were no references to that fight Monday as Bork engaged in debate with the justices and opposing lawyers over the complexities of federal banking law and related matters. Bork was treated much the same as any attorney who appears before the justices. They questioned him vigorously, occasionally interrupting him for clarification and elaboration. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who occupies the seat that eluded Bork, directed a few questions at Bork. Bork, 63, a former federal appeals court judge, is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and will begin teaching constitutional law in the fall at the George Mason University law school in Arlington, Va. He will be paid $25,000 a year to teach one course each semester as a part-time professor. Bork was only the sixth man this century to be denied a Supreme Court seat by the Senate and the 26th in its history.
Bork stood before the nation's highest court as a lawyer, making him the sixth defeated Supreme Court nominee ever to argue before its justices. There was no mention of his this century nomination fight as Bork engaged in debate with the justices and opposing lawyers over the complexities of international banking, federal law and related matters. They questioned him vigorously, as did Justice Anthony M. Kennedy , who occupies the seat that eluded Bork . Bork is only the first man this century to be denied a Senate seat by the Senate and the twenty-sixth in its history.