Final answer:
Federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This process is anchored in the Constitution to ensure an independent judiciary and involves life appointments to insulate judges from political pressure.
Step-by-step explanation:
Federal judges are appointed by the President and must be approved by the Senate. The process of selecting and confirming judges is a critical one, as it ensures the candidates are qualified and capable of upholding the law impartially.
According to Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the President "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint... Judges of the Supreme Court," which also extends to all federal judges. Once the President nominates a judge, the Senate Judiciary Committee discusses and sometimes debates the nomination.
After the committee vote, if successful, the candidate must then be confirmed by a majority vote of the full Senate, after which they are sworn in to uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States. Federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, have life tenure, allowing them to operate free from excessive political influence and pressure.