Traditionally, the issue of court appointments has had little effect in modern presidential elections.

Before her court appointment, she was a partner in Chicago and Washington law firms.

The letter led to a federal investigation into possible illegal patronage in court appointments.

Her husband usually fails to show up for court appointments, and the court has not pressed him.

A court appointment by no means precluded outside work.

Some lawyers take hundreds, even thousands, of cases each year in order to make a full-time living from court appointments.

Many from his musical family also held court appointments.

More significant, she gave him several court appointments, including a 1999 case that state investigators found troubling.

His position as colonel general of the cavalry (1548-49) was also a court appointment.

"I think the scrutiny level is much higher on a court appointment," he said in an interview.