The death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg created an opening in the Supreme Court, which both sides want to use for their advantage. President Donald Trump vowed to nominate another woman to the Supreme Court to fill the spot left by Ginsburg’s death. Trump is attempting to fill the court before the election takes place later this year. Yesterday, Trump gave his nomination for Amy Coney Barrett. It now falls to the Republican controlled Senate to accept the nomination and place Judge Barrett within the Supreme Court.
The Republicans within the Senate are willing to back Trump and push Barrett through and onto the Supreme Court. In fact many Republicans believe it will be filled before the election, which would mark the fast appointment to the Supreme Court within U.S. history. Some Republicans believe it is possible for confirmation to come after the election. The Senate plans to begin the hearings for the nominee on October 12, just a couple of weeks away.
The Senate judiciary chairman, Lindsey Graham said this to Fox news, "So, we'll start on October 12, and more than half of the Supreme Court justices who have had hearings were done within16 days or less.”
After the Senate Judiciary Committee is done, it falls to Mitch McConnell and other Republicans to push the nomination through to the Supreme Court. This push by Republicans to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court is the opposite of the reaction in 2016. The Republican senators are expecting to face retaliation from the Democrats in the Senate for their actions in 2016 stalling Obama’s nomination.
The Democrats fear that the appointment of the highly conservative Barrett to the court can harm the Affordable Care Act and the Roe v Wade case. Democrats within the Senate plan to do all that is possible to delay appointment of Barrett to the Supreme Court. Democrats seem to believe that they will be able to extend the process in order to delay the appointment until after the election.
The struggle for the Supreme Court nomination and drive to completion is a perfect example of politics within the US. Both sides are attempting to impact the process for either own gain. The Democrats want to delay blocking Republican control of the court. On the other hand, the Republicans need a fast process in order to cement control of the court. That way, even if Trump loses the election, the Republicans will control at least one branch of government.
The Hill - GOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November
Politico - Senate Dems ready tactics to muck up Supreme Court confirmation
CNN - Graham: Senate Judiciary Committee will approve Barrett on October 22
1 comment:
One interesting thing is the fact that Trump nominated a female judge. Based on his prior actions and reputation, this may seem surprising; however, judging by the fact that it is near the election, it is likely that Trump did this to appeal to female voters.
As for the actions of the Senate, it is unsurprising that both sides will try to delay or accelerate the process whenever it benefits them, because that's how politicians are. If the situation were reversed and a democratic-controlled senate were confirming a democratic judge nominated by a democratic president, I would think that they would do the same thing that Mitch Mcconnell is doing right now.
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