Washington (CNN)Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, a veteran member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, urged its chairman, Sen.
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The funeral Mass for Justice Antonin Scalia, who died Saturday, will be held this Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, the largest Roman Catholic Church in America, the National Law Journal (sub. req.) reports.
The series of apparent U-turns illustrated the turmoil in the Republican Party about how to handle the unexpected death of Scalia, a conservative stalwart. Democrats say Obama has every right and a constitutional duty to fill vacancies on the court until he leaves office next January. The President did not shy away from acknowledging the distinct political orientations between him and Justice Scalia. “I think the presidency – we should be respectful of the Constitution, but whatever powers are afforded the presidency, the president ought to use them”.
However, at the press conference, a reporter asked the President whether the media should interpret any of his remarks as insinuating a moderate nominee.
Earlier this week, Grassley – whose committee would hold hearings – indicated he would wait to see who Obama nominated before deciding about hearings.
Obama rejected that notion, insisting he will put forward a replacement and believes the Senate will have “plenty of time” to give the nominee a fair hearing and a vote.
We are not the United States but instead the Divided States.
Vice President Joe Biden speaks July 21 during a roundtable discussion at the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Community College of Denver.
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 who meet the benchmark that Biden laid out. Senators also unanimously confirmed Jane Kelly in 2013 to the St. Louis-based 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Yet most Republicans and likeminded groups were holding firm.
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“Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor on Wednesday said she disagrees with Republicans who want to wait to appoint a new justice until after the presidential election”. As he was one of its most conservative – many would say obstructionist – justices, it would be near impossible for the Obama administration to not nominate a markedly more progressive justice.
