President Obama on Wednesday described the perfect nominee to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia: someone with impeccable credentials and a non-ideological approach to the law.
In a post on the popular Supreme Court website SCOTUSblog, Obama dropped the latest hints about his selection process, which began shortly after Scalia’s death on Feb. 13.
{mosads}“A sterling record. A deep respect for the judiciary’s role. An understanding of the way the world really works,” Obama wrote. “That’s what I’m considering as I fulfill my constitutional duty to appoint a judge to our highest court.”
The president’s comments are sure to fuel ongoing speculation that he’s prepared to pick a nominee that has bipartisan support, rather than a liberal firebrand.
“I seek judges who approach decisions without any particular ideology or agenda, but rather a commitment to impartial justice, a respect for precedent, and a determination to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand,” he wrote.
The White House has not revealed any of the names on Obama’s list of potential nominees. But legal experts envision him selecting someone who has previously been confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate, such as D.C. Circuit Court Judge Sri Srinivasan, 8th Circuit Court Judge Jane Kelly or Attorney General Loretta Lynch.
But the path to confirmation for any of Obama’s nominees is littered with obstacles. Senate Republicans slammed the door on any formal consideration of a Supreme Court nominee, saying they won’t hold a vote, conduct hearings or even meet with Obama’s candidate.
“The overwhelming view of the Republican Conference in the Senate is this vacancy should not be filled by this lame-duck president,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday.
Obama brushed aside the Republican senators’ stance, urging them to give his nominee fair consideration.
“As Senators prepare to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to consider the person I appoint, I hope they’ll move quickly to debate and then confirm this nominee so that the Court can continue to serve the American people at full strength,” he wrote.