Obama aims to nominate new Supreme Court judge in next few weeks

“I don’t blame the president for exercising the authority the Constitution gives him, which is to nominate someone”, Cornyn said. Obama’s nominee could change the court’s balance of power, as Scalia’s death left it with four conservative and four liberal justices.

“To leave the seat vacant at this critical moment in American history is a little bit like saying, ‘God forbid something happen to the president and the vice president, we’re not going to fill the presidency for another year and a half, ‘ ” Biden said.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah), who sits on the committee, said he opposes a filibuster to prevent a vote, as some Republicans have suggested.

Republicans nearly universally say that Obama’s nominee will be blocked, but the debate is squarely over how and when. “And were the nomination to get out of the Judiciary Committee, it’s entirely within the control and discretion of the Senate majority leader, Sen”.

President Barack Obama gestures as he answers questions during a news conference following the conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders summit at the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. For instance, in OH, first-term Republican Senator Rob Portman said confirming a presidential nominee should wait until after the presidential election. That means there is likely to be very little blowback if and when President Obama’s pick doesn’t wind up getting a vote before the November election. “I think we fall into the trap if [we] just simply say sight unseen, we fall into the trap of being obstructionists”, Tillis said. “And the reason is because I have a lot of faith in the American people”. Other Republicans appeared to walk back earlier comments that had opened the door to granting a hearing and possibly a vote to Obama’s choice to replace Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Scalia died on February 13 during a hunting trip in Marfa, Texas.

Mr. Obama has summarily dismissed the notion that Republicans have constitutional grounds to refuse to vote on his nominee. Since the Senate is now in recess until February 22, the president has the ability to nominate and appoint a justice without consulting the Senate.

“The possibility shows Republicans could overplay their hand”, said the former Obama official, who requested anonymity to discuss a strategy which assumes Obama’s nominee won’t be confirmed this year.

In a written statement announcing his position, Heller said, “The chances of approving a new nominee are slim, but Nevadans should have a voice in the process”.