Update 9 p.m.: In an address to the nation mourning the passing of Justice Scalia, President Obama made clear his intentions to nominate a Supreme Court Justice to replace Antonin Scalia, as well as his expectation that the Senate will give that nominee consideration and a timely vote.
"I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor, in due time," Obama said. "There will be plenty of time for me to do so and for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote. These are responsibilities I take seriously, as should everyone. They're bigger than any one party. They are about our democracy."
Watch the full video, below:
This story was originally published at 4:15 p.m.
Ted Cruz would like to reserve the nomination of the next Supreme Court Justice, to replace Antonin Scalia, for the next president. After Justice Scalia's death was announced, Cruz tweeted, "Today, our Nation mourns the loss of one of the greatest Justices in history — Justice Antonin Scalia."
He followed it with a tweet that has politicos on both sides of the aisle discussing the workings of executive appointments:
The president has the power to appoint justices to the federal and Supreme Courts, as well as the court of appeals and district courts, according to the Constitution. That power is balanced by requiring that the appointments be confirmed by the Senate. There is no restriction that would require President Obama to withhold a replacement nomination by the law, but given that he is only the president through the rest of 2016, this could be Cruz announcing his intentions as a member of the Senate to hold up any nominations put forth.
It's a maneuver conservatives used in 2015, blocking Obama's nominee for Attorney General Loretta Lynch, with the aim of forcing the president to reverse his executive action that deferred deportation for certain undocumented immigrants to the ire of the Republican caucus, according to the New Yorker.
"The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.” McConnell said in a statement, hinting at an uphill battle for any Obama nomination.
Cruz, as the first-place winner of the Iowa caucus, is in the running to earn the GOP presidential nomination. If he does, he would potentially be making the nomination from which he currently feels the president should abstain.
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"I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibilities to nominate a successor, in due time," Obama said. "There will be plenty of time for me to do so and for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote. These are responsibilities I take seriously, as should everyone. They're bigger than any one party. They are about our democracy."
Watch the full video, below:
FULL VIDEO: @POTUS on the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. https://t.co/MgqEeftDp3
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 14, 2016
This story was originally published at 4:15 p.m.
Ted Cruz would like to reserve the nomination of the next Supreme Court Justice, to replace Antonin Scalia, for the next president. After Justice Scalia's death was announced, Cruz tweeted, "Today, our Nation mourns the loss of one of the greatest Justices in history — Justice Antonin Scalia."
He followed it with a tweet that has politicos on both sides of the aisle discussing the workings of executive appointments:
Justice Scalia was an American hero. We owe it to him, & the Nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next President names his replacement.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 13, 2016
The president has the power to appoint justices to the federal and Supreme Courts, as well as the court of appeals and district courts, according to the Constitution. That power is balanced by requiring that the appointments be confirmed by the Senate. There is no restriction that would require President Obama to withhold a replacement nomination by the law, but given that he is only the president through the rest of 2016, this could be Cruz announcing his intentions as a member of the Senate to hold up any nominations put forth.
It's a maneuver conservatives used in 2015, blocking Obama's nominee for Attorney General Loretta Lynch, with the aim of forcing the president to reverse his executive action that deferred deportation for certain undocumented immigrants to the ire of the Republican caucus, according to the New Yorker.
"The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president.” McConnell said in a statement, hinting at an uphill battle for any Obama nomination.
Cruz, as the first-place winner of the Iowa caucus, is in the running to earn the GOP presidential nomination. If he does, he would potentially be making the nomination from which he currently feels the president should abstain.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The Surprising Thing That Caitlyn Jenner Gets Shamed For
Meet The Millennial Women Shaping Politics
Kendall Jenner Announced A Makeup Launch, Plus More Must- Read Stories