Flags at half-staff for Scalia, political fight heats up

Federal judicial nominees must be confirmed by the Senate, and Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell swiftly issued a statement saying, “The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice”.

He made his most blistering attacks against Bush and his brother, former president George W Bush, who has many admirers in the Republican establishment. “When I’m president of the United States, I’ll nominate someone like Justice Scalia”, he said.

Manley said that McConnell has already shown that he is unwilling to support any choice made by Obama and that the White House must act aggressively.

Scalia while on a weekend trip to Texas. Justice Scalia dedicated his life to the cornerstone of our democracy: “The rule of law”.

Elizabeth O’Hara is a spokeswoman for the El Paso Catholic Diocese. The nearest town is Shafter, Texas, population 11. If Senate Republicans stick to their insistence on not approving a nominee this year, the current vacancy likely will last even longer.

Scalia’s death thrust the future of the high court into the center of a heated presidential campaign.

Republicans argued that Obama, as a lame duck, should not fill the vacancy created by Scalia’s death but leave it to the next president – which they hope will be one of them.

Senator Lindsey Graham of SC also took a shot at Trump.

“I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor in due time”, Obama told reporters Saturday night in Rancho Mirage, Calif. “There will be plenty of time for me to do so, and for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote”.

The top Democrat in the Senate, Harry Reid of Nevada, called on the president to make a nomination “right away”. He replied: “The Supreme Court”.

No sooner had condolences and tributes been uttered, the nation’s attention shifted to filling the Supreme Court vacancy. “The Senate confirms. Let’s get on with our business”. “They are bigger than any one party”, he said. He said Congressional Quarterly estimates that about half of non-confirmed justices were because of outgoing presidents.

Obama is praising the late justice as a brilliant legal mind who influenced generation of lawyers and students. Scalia, 79, was found dead Saturday mor…

In the modern era, that means a lengthy Senate confirmation process for an enormously influential post that lasts from a justice’s swearing-in until his or her death or retirement. The Senate rejected the nomination of Robert Bork and Douglas Ginsburg withdrew over reports that he used marijuana while a Harvard law professor.

Donald Trump, his face red with emotion, has lashed out at rivals Jeb Bush and Ted Cruz at the most acrimonious debate to date between Republican presidential candidates, shouting insults and casting aside a pledge to be more measured. “Elections have consequences. The President has a responsibility to nominate a new justice and the Senate has a responsibility to vote”, Clinton said during a visit in Denver.

In his time on the court, Scalia left a legacy of conservatism and a strict adherence to the Constitution. He passed “along condolences to the entire Scalia family on the passing of his father”.

A nomination by Obama might not come to a vote, but it will force senators to take a public position on the nominee.

“Then the people actually have had some say”, Kasich added. He will no doubt be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court. Scalia was visiting Texas for a hunting trip, and his body was discovered after he failed to appear for breakfast in the resort where he was staying.