Brief look at the major players in 'Hillary' case

The Associated Press

All eyes will be on Sotomayor as the court's first Hispanic and third female justice ever hears her first Supreme Court argument. The 55-year-old Sotomayor, sworn in during August, was still on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York when Citizens United v. FEC was first argued, but will participate in this decision.

Observers will be looking to see what kind of questioner she will be: Early and often like Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Rarely if at all like Justice Clarence Thomas? Somewhere in the middle?

Her dress will also be scrutinized. Justices can adjust their black robes for their particular sensibilities. Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist put four yellow stripes on his sleeves, while former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor added a white lace jabot around the collar of her robe.

This will also be the first Supreme Court argument for Kagan, who was a finalist for the Supreme Court seat Sotomayor got.

Kagan was dean of Harvard Law School before President Barack Obama nominated her to be the first female solicitor general.

The solicitor general is the administration's top Supreme Court lawyer. It's often referred to as the "10th justice," because of the government's frequent appearances in front of the justices and the court's many calls for the solicitor general's views on a case before the justices decide whether to take it.

A former solicitor general under President George W. Bush, Olson is best known for representing the then-candidate in the Supreme Court case Bush v. Gore, which made Bush the winner of the 2000 presidential election.

As Bush's solicitor general, Olson six years ago defended the same campaign finance provision he now challenges. Olson has won three out of every four arguments he's made to the justices.

As solicitor general under President Bill Clinton, Waxman persuaded the Supreme Court to uphold the constitutionality of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act — or McCain-Feingold Act — in a historic four-hour argument during a special court session. Waxman also successfully argued the Supreme Court should rule that terrorism detainees in the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have the right to challenge their detention in federal courts.

Abrams will represent McConnell, R-Ky., and others who challenge the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.

One of the nation's pre-eminent First Amendment lawyers, Abrams represented The New York Times in the Pentagon Papers case, and the newspapers and its reporter Judith Miller in the CIA leak grand jury investigation.

He also defended now-Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., from a trademark lawsuit by Fox News Channel over Franken's use of the phrase "Fair and Balanced" in the title of his book.

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September 06, 2009 12:06 AM EDT

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