Ruth Bader Ginsberg: Trump confirms he will seek to replace Supreme Court justice ‘without delay’

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will seek to replace Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg “without delay, setting up a monumental political struggle on the cusp of the presidential election.

Judge Ginsberg, a progressive law icon, died yesterday at the age of 87 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Her last wish, revealed by her granddaughter Clara Spera, was that she “not be replaced until a new president is installed.”

But today, Trump indicated that he would go ahead with the nomination process immediately. He plans to name Judge Ginsberg’s possible successor next week.

“We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered the selection of the justices of the United States Supreme Court,” the president tweeted.

“We have this obligation, without delay!”

Under the United States judicial system, the president appoints the judges and the Senate confirms them. Each judge is for life.

If Trump succeeds in replacing Judge Ginsberg with a conservative jurist, the balance of the court will change decisively.

Before his death, there were four Liberals and five Conservatives, but one of the Conservatives, Chief Justice John Roberts, acted more like a swing vote. The balance now could shift to three liberals and six conservatives.

Democrats worry that it could lead to the court overturning Roe vs. Wade, a landmark 1973 decision that effectively legalized abortion in the United States.

Further complicating the political debate are the actions of Senate Republicans four years ago, when they refused to consider a Supreme Court candidate nominated by then-President Barack Obama because it was an election year.

Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, about nine months before the presidential election. Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to replace him. But Senate Leader Mitch McConnell refused even to hold hearings, let alone vote.

“The American people must 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 at the time.

Trump won the election and, after taking office, filled the vacant position with a conservative judge, Neil Gorsuch.

That was followed by the appointment of another conservative, Brett Kavanaugh, in 2018.

Judge Ginsberg’s death came just 46 days before this year’s election, which will take place on November 3. This time, however, McConnell is willing to move on.

“Americans re-elected our majority (of the Senate) in 2016 and we expanded it in 2018 because we committed to working with President Trump and supporting his agenda, in particular his prominent appointments to the federal judiciary. Once again, we will deliver on our promise.” , said. said.

“President Trump’s candidate will receive a vote in the plenary session of the United States Senate.”

Democrats, and many of the president’s critics in the media, were quick to angrily accuse Republicans of hypocrisy.

“Four and a half years ago, when Republicans refused to hold a hearing or vote for or against Merrick Garland, they invented the principle that the Senate should not fill a vacant seat on the Supreme Court before a vote is filed. new president. sworn in, “Obama said.

“A basic principle of the law, and of everyday fairness, is that we apply the rules consistently and not based on what is convenient or advantageous at the time.

“Republican senators are now called upon to apply that standard.”

Republicans have a 53-47 majority in the Senate and, in the event of a tie, Vice President Mike Pence can cast the deciding vote. So for Trump’s attempt to fail, four Republican senators will have to vote against their candidate.

So far, only two have expressed opposition to replacing Judge Ginsberg before the election.

“For the American people to have faith in their elected officials, we must act fairly and consistently, no matter which political party is in power,” Maine Senator Susan Collins said today.

“I don’t think the Senate should vote on the nominee before the election. In fairness to the American people, who will either re-elect the president or select a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the president who be elected on November 3. “

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski also opposes McConnell’s measure.

“I would not vote to confirm a candidate for the Supreme Court. We are 50 days away from an election,” he said.

Democrats are also keeping a close eye on Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential nominee, who was notably the only Republican to vote for Trump’s impeachment during his impeachment earlier this year.

Other Republican senators who have previously voiced opposition to choosing a Supreme Court justice in an election year include Chuck Grassley, Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham. They all now support the immediate replacement of Judge Ginsberg.

Reporters asked Trump about Collins’ stance during a brief press conference today.

“I totally disagree with her,” he said.

“We have an obligation. We win and we have an obligation, as winners, to choose who we want. That is not the next president.”

“We are here now. Right now, we are here. And we have an obligation to the voters, to all the people, to the millions of people who put us here in victory form.”

“So I would not agree.”

Judge Amy Coney Barrett is seen as one of the leading candidates to be nominated by Trump. When asked about her, he confirmed that he would probably choose a woman.

“I could see, most likely, it would be a woman. Yes, I think I can say it would be a woman,” Trump said.

“I’d say a woman would come first, yes. Choosing a woman, I would say, would certainly be appropriate.

“We are working with all the Republican senators and working with Mitch McConnell, and we will make a decision. I think earlier (the election) would be very good, but we will make a decision.”

“I think the process can go very, very fast. I will make my decision soon, and when the decision is made, I will send it to Mitch and the Senate, and they will do what they have to do.

“I think we will have a very popular option, whoever it is.”