Obama Rejects GOP Talking Point That He Can’t Nominate Scalia’s Successor

President Obama today called on Senate Republicans to follow the Constitution and vote on his eventual nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died Friday at 79.

Reflecting on the broader political circumstances surrounding judicial nominees, the president added, “The fact that it’s that hard, that we’re even discussing this, is I think a measure of how, unfortunately, the venom and rancor in Washington has prevented us from getting basic work done”. Although Obama wouldn’t commit to nominating a “moderate”, Vice President Joe Biden said this week that the president was unlikely to pick “the most liberal jurist in the nation and put them on the court”.

Hypothetically, let’s say Obama narrows his decision down to one candidate for Scalia’s replacement and presents him or her before the Senate.

A funeral mass for Justice Antonin Scalia will be held Saturday in Washington, D.C., the Supreme Court announced on Tuesday evening.

Replacing Scalia with a Democrat-appointed justice could change the balance of the court under Chief Justice John Roberts, and would mean the election of the president could immediately determine the direction of the Supreme Court. “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”.

“This is a very serious position to fill and it should be filled and debated during the campaign and filled by either Hillary Clinton, Senator (Bernie) Sanders or whoever’s nominated by the Republicans”.

But Republicans have slammed Obama for not attending the funeral of the longtime conservative justice, interpreting it as a sign of disrespect to someone who was often at odds with the president.

Americans are giving the U.S. Supreme Court its highest approval rating in years, a new poll shows.

The plagiarism allegations arose as Biden oversaw the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for President Ronald Reagan’s nominee to the Supreme Court Robert Bork, who was ultimately rejected by lawmakers.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, had broken with fellow Republicans on Wednesday by declaring that the Senate should hold hearings on Obama’s nominee.

“I understand the pressure that Republican senators are undoubtedly under”, Obama said.

“The Constitution is pretty clear about what is supposed to happen now”, Mr Obama, a former constitutional law professor, told a news conference at the close of a two-day meeting with leaders from south-east Asia.

“Obviously, when the vice president travels some place, his security footprint is at least a little bit lighter, but given his personal relationship with the family and given the president’s desire to find a respectful way to pay tribute to Justice Scalia’s service to the country, we believe we have settled on an appropriate and respectful arrangement”, Earnest said. The Senate must confirm any nominee.

Nevada Republican Dean Heller went even further, saying that the Senate should vote on a nominee.

He was one of the most conservatives justices on the high court and was its longest-serving member.