Politics of representation and merit: the internal and public argument over whether to choose Mendoza (a life story and jurisprudence rooted in lived experience) or Harrison (an elite, pedigreed candidate) — a societal debate about who 'deserves' insti...
Politics of representation and merit: the internal and public argument over whether to choose Mendoza (a life story and jurisprudence rooted in lived experience) or Harrison (an elite, pedigreed candidate) — a societal debate about who 'deserves' institutional power and which backgrounds can withstand confirmation fights.
Events in This Arc
In the Oval Office confrontation, Sam invokes the Framers to expose the danger of a brittle, purely textualist jurisprudence while Harrison responds with petulant hauteur — calling questioning "rude," revealing …
In Josh's office Mandy and Josh have a terse, ideologically charged argument about Roberto Mendoza's suitability as a Supreme Court nominee. Mandy voices hard-nosed political concerns — Mendoza's rulings and …
President Bartlet formally introduces Judge Roberto Mendoza to the assembled West Wing in a staged, ceremonial moment designed to project unity and build momentum for a contentious Supreme Court confirmation. …