1.   Because justices are appointed for life, their decisions affect policy long after the president who appointed them leaves office.

2.   All three justices were appointed by Democratic governors to six-year terms.

3.   Bush has cited Scalia and Thomas as his idea of what kind of justices should be appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and that worries abortion rights proponents.

4.   Bush, on the other hand, has rhetorically sided with those who oppose racial preferences, and would probably appoint justices who share that view.

5.   But, on average, a president appoints two justices in a four-year term.

6.   Florida justices are appointed by the governor, but undergo merit retention elections after their first year and then every six years.

7.   Gore also challenged Bush on whether he would appoint anti-abortion justices to the Supreme Court.

8.   Gore challenged Bush on whether he would appoint anti-abortion justices to the Supreme Court.

9.   Gore says he does not favor litmus tests but would appoint justices with a philosophy that would make them supporters of Roe v. Wade.

10.   If he were elected, they insist, he would appoint justices who would ban abortion.