All presidents are concerned with the legacy they leave once out of office and major influence on this legacy is the Supreme Court justices they appoint. For this reason, politics plays an immense role the nomination process. Consider the nomination of Merrick Garland by Barack Obama in 2016 to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia (an icon of conservative ideology). the Senate’s constitutional right to act as a check on the president and withhold its consent. Supreme Court picks have often been controversial but there was no precedence to ignore the nominee entirely. President Donald Trump recently nominated Judge Amy Barrett after the death of Justice Ginsburg right before the US Presidential election in 2020.  
Based on this information analyze the process by which U.S. judges are nominated and confirmed. Does this seem like a fair process? What extent does it have on the political lean of the Court, and therefore, on United States law (specifically civil rights and civil liberties)? Cite specific examples. Consider the concepts of judicial activism and judicial restraint in your response.
Your initial discussion postings (250-300 words)