The process of confirming federal judicial appointments has become especially contentious over the past few decades. Do you think this is a result of the expanded role that courts play in political decisions, a change in the nature of contemporary political discourse, both, or something else entirely? At the end of the day, is it likely that this reality will ever change or do both sides of the partisan and ideological spectrum have too much to gain from keeping the process contentious? What consequences do you think that this change has on our political system?