Mainstream Legal Values

Today, the long-awaited battle over President Bush's judicial nominees took center stage on Capitol Hill. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist brought Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen's nomination to the floor and drew fire from Democrats, who have fought her nomination since 2001.

Owen was one of ten nominees Democrats blocked by filibuster in the first Bush term, and one of seven he has nominated again in his second term.

Democrats say the Bush nominees are out of the judicial mainstream. Republicans say they are the mainstream. If Democrats filibuster again, the Republican majority threatens to employ the so-called nuclear option — closing down the filibuster path on judicial nominees.

Hear a discussion with two legal scholars from both sides of the political aisle on what constitutes the mainstream of American jurisprudence.

Guests:

Maura Reynolds, Congressional reporter for The Los Angeles Times

Jonathan Turley, law professor at George Washington University

Douglas Kmiec, law professor at Pepperdine University

Jack Beatty, On Point News Analyst, senior editor for The Atlantic Monthly.