06-27-2018, 07:57 PM
(06-27-2018, 03:11 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Just saw SCOTUS Blog tweet that effective 31 July, Kennedy is retiring.
Brett Kavanaugh's name has been rumored to be floated by Senate Republicans as a replacement.
Edit to add: Kennedy is a more right-wing Justice, though he has been a swing vote on some heavy hitting 5-4 decisions. Kavanaugh took three years to get through the process for his lower court appointment because of concerns over partisanship and it took a lot of wheeling and dealing to get him there. If he is nominated I would expect a filibuster.
NO filibuster is possible with a SCOTUS nominee. As long as Trump nominates a judge that can get all 51 GOP votes then that judge is in. The one positive for the Dems in this regard is McCain. He may not be up to voting and he will certainly demand a more moderate, though certainly more conservative than the Dems would like, candidate.
(06-27-2018, 04:22 PM)GMDino Wrote: Will we have to wait until after the November elections to have hearings on a potential replacement?
Many people say that is the way it is supposed to work.
No, because the GOP is in power in both houses of Congress and the White House. I get your point, but no, it won't happen.
(06-27-2018, 04:27 PM)Nately120 Wrote: If they hurry to appoint one it'll be a sign they don't think Trump can win a second term.
No, because why would they take a chance on something as important as this? They have the numbers now, they'll have them until well after the November elections. There's zero reason for them to take it slow, beyond ensuring the 51 votes in the Senate they need.
