US Constitution via kjd.

This afternoon at 3 pm ET/noon PT, we’ll have a live chat with Doug Kendall of the Constitutional Accountability Center regarding the Sotomayor nomination, as well as the role of SCOTUS, the rule of law and the Constitution.  And what should be on our minds for any potential future SCOTUS nominations.

The new buzz-phrase from the right on the Sotomayor nomination is "judicial integrity." And CAC hits this square:

There is no duty for a Supreme Court Justice that is more important than providing “equal justice under law” and, in the words of the Supreme Court, holding the balance of the scales of justice “nice, clear, and true.” The Justices not only serve as role models for other judges, they interpret constitutional mandates and federal statutes that set standards of judicial conduct for state and federal judges around the country. Since her nomination to the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor has repeatedly affirmed her commitment to equal justice, responding to ridiculous claims from her critics that a “wise Latina” can’t follow her judicial oath.

More important, her published opinions, speeches, and judicial disclosure forms all suggest strongly that Judge Sotomayor takes seriously the notion that judges have the obligation to secure impartial justice to all, and must take care to avoid even the appearance of partiality or bias.

We’ll be discussing this and a lot more this afternoon at 3 pm ET/noon PT. Hope you can join us!