Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said Monday that he has spoken to Republican senators who sounded open to supporting President Joe Biden's eventual Supreme Court nominee to succeed retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
The Illinois Democrat, who is chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told reporters he has "spoken and texted to several Republican senators that I think may be open to the idea — no promises made — of considering a Biden nominee for the court."
Democrats hold the slimmest of majorities in the 50-50 Senate. If they stick together, they won't need any Republican votes to confirm Biden's nominee. "Historically that’s been the standard," Durbin said. "Being a sitting judge is important. There’s nothing spelled out in the Constitution that requires it. But certainly it makes the argument more credible."
Manchin suggested that if Biden appoints somebody that has already been confirmed by the Senate to the lower courts, the process would move more expeditiously. and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger. A source familiar with the White House’s process told NBC News last week that two others are under consideration: New York University law professor Melissa Murray and Wilhelmina Wright, a judge on the U.S. district court in Minnesota.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Biden honors retiring Justice Breyer, commits to nominate Black woman to replace him on Supreme CourtJustice Stephen Breyer's retirement clears the way for Pres. Biden to follow through on his campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to the high court for his historic first pick.
Read more »
Biden should consider ‘all possible’ choices for Supreme Court: pollAn overwhelming majority of Americans believe President Biden should consider all possible candidates to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court.
Read more »
Majority of Americans want Biden to consider 'all possible nominees' for Supreme Court vacancy: POLLAssessing the Supreme Court, 43% of voters believe justices rule 'on the basis of their partisan political views' rather than 'on the basis of the law,' according to a new ABC News/Ipsos poll.
Read more »
Georgetown Lecturer Suspended for Saying Biden Will Nominate 'Lesser Black Woman' to Supreme CourtIn a since-deleted tweet, Ilya Shapiro wrote the next Justice “will always have an asterisk attached.”
Read more »
Biden calls for release of US hostage in AfghanistanPresident Joe Biden on Sunday called for the release of U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs, who was taken hostage in Afghanistan nearly two years ago.
Read more »
Biden Administration Wants To Make Getting Unemployment Insurance EasierA small pilot program will help layoff victims navigate the process of claiming benefits.
Read more »