President Barack Obama is a lame duck president talking about making a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court, Sen.
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“In the meantime the American people are gonna have the ability to gauge whether the person I nominate is well within the mainstream, is a good jurist, is somebody who’s worthy of sitting on the Supreme Court”, Obama added. “He or she will have an independent mind, rigorous intellect, impeccable credentials and a record of excellence and integrity”. Decisions about how much to reveal are left to each justice.
Obama said that he also looks for someone who understands the limits of the role of the judiciary branch, as one which interprets the law and not makes laws – part of the constitutional system of checks and balances.
And Mr. Obama’s third requirement for the nation’s highest bench: life experience. She is running for election to a full term on the state Supreme Court after being appointed by Gov. Scott Walker four months ago to fill a vacancy.
The nominee must also see that “justice is not about abstract legal theory” but has an impact on Americans’ lives.
“Needless to say, this isn’t something I take lightly”, Obama wrote.
When he does choose to name Scalia’s successor, Mr. Obama will be fighting an uphill battle to get his nominee confirmed.
And, about those times: Senate Republicans signaled this week they will take no action on whomever the White House nominates.
Addressing Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell directly, Obama said he “and all the members of the Senate are going to make a decision about how do they fulfill their constitutional responsibilities”.
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Cornyn said he voted early in Texas’ Republican primary, without disclosing his vote or openly backing a candidate. Republicans in the GOP-controlled U.S. Senate have vowed to ignore him, preferring to wait for a new president – maybe a Republican – in January.
