Taking Care of Business, Without Justice Scalia on the Bench

White House Press Secretary Josh Ernest said Wednesday that the president and First Lady Michelle Obama plan to pay their “respects” at the Supreme Court on Friday, where Scalia will lie in repose. “You know, the American people have already begun voting for the next president of the United States”.

In the face of the president’s resolve, some Senate Republicans, McConnell included, have vowed to block hearings for Obama’s nominee.

“Although vacancies during an election year are rare, more than a dozen Supreme Court justices have been confirmed in presidential election years”. The death of a Supreme Court Justice should be important enough for Obama to attend.

“You just have to pick the best person you can under the circumstances as the appointing authority must do, and one that we care about as a nation and as a people”, she added.

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., a member of the Judiciary Committee, cautioned Republicans against flatly ruling out any Obama nominee because of the possibility that the president selects someone who matches Scalia’s conservative views.

His son offered a prayer among family and Scalia’s eight fellow justices inside the Supreme Court’s Great Hall.

The court’s longest-serving justice was a month shy of his 80th birthday when he was found dead last Saturday during a visit to a West Texas ranch.

Dean Heller, R-Nev., said the lawmaker agreed with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the next president should make the selection.

Although the White House hasn’t publicly disclosed any candidates Obama is considering, he’s expected to look closely at a number of circuit court judges – including some that meet the benchmark that Biden laid out.

President Barack Obama is due to be among those paying respects later in the day, as will members of the public. “And I think it’s also accurate to say we’re not going to confirm”.

Republican Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, whose panel weighs Supreme Court nominations, said on Tuesday he will wait until Obama names his pick to fill the vacancy before deciding whether to hold confirmation hearings. Justice Clarence Thomas, Scalia’s partner on the bench, and Leonard Leo, executive vice president of the conservative Federalist Society, will contribute readings. By attending the funeral Obama would have underscored the importance of nonpartisanship when it comes to the court.