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Occupy the post of Supreme Court Justice shortly before the presidential elections? Since the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg († 87), the dispute over the political maneuver with which US President Donald Trump (74) wants to secure a conservative majority in the Supreme Court, shortly before he can be removed by vote.
No one is surprised that Democrats are against Trump’s plan. But now the dispute over Ginsburg’s successor is even dividing Trump’s Republicans. Lisa Murkowski (63), senator from Alaska, withdraws her support for the president of the United States: she does not want to occupy the position on the Supreme Court shortly before the elections.
“I would not vote to confirm a candidate for the Supreme Court. There are still 50 days until the election, “she said Friday, just hours before the death of legendary judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She confirmed her position again on Sunday. She thinks: The same standard should apply as in 2016.
At the time, referring to the election year, Republicans blocked attempts by Democrats and President Barack Obama (59) to vote on a successor to the late Constitutional Judge Antonin Scalia. But Republicans don’t want to hear about it anymore. They feel their chance: a conservative majority on the nine-member Supreme Court!
Only one more voice is missing for stagnation
Murkowski is the second senator to openly oppose Trump’s will. His fellow senator Susan Collins (67) had previously announced that she would await the outcome of the presidential elections. President Trump could continue with the nomination for now, but for “fairness to the American people,” the next president-elect should decide on the appointment of the post of judge for life.
If a colleague joins the two senators, there would be a deadlock. So Vice President Mike Pence’s vote is considered decisive. If Murkowski and Collins joined two more senators, Republicans, who currently hold 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate, would certainly not have a majority in a vote.
Who could break the Republican majority?
Some senators known as Trump critics have yet to comment on the possible choice of judges. In light of the US elections, the question for many of them is likely to be which decision will be best for their voters and will secure them a place in the Senate in the future. These include Cory Gardner, 46, Colorado, Charles Grassley, 87, Iowa, and his colleague Joni Ernst, 50, whose Senate seat in Iowa is about to be polled.
Special attention is also paid to Mitt Romney (73, Utah), Trump’s loudest critic in the Senate. And he has no problem meddling with his party: Romney was the only Republican to vote in February 2020 in the impeachment process against Donald Trump on the charge of abuse of power with Democratic senators.
While Romney has yet to comment on himself, the signs come from his camp. Stuart Stevens, one of Romney’s top 2012 election campaign advisers who is still close to him according to the New York Times, tweeted that Trump’s plan would provoke a backlash that would “end” Republican control over the Senate.
Even Trump critic Graham wants to back Trump
But the party is apparently divided on what voters like best. Even Trump’s critic Lindsey Graham (65) is in favor of the swift replacement of the important post of judge.
“Being taught by Democrats how to handle judge nominations is like an arsonist advising the fire department,” the South Carolina senator tweeted. He will support the President of the United States, Donald Trump, “in all efforts to move forward with the position recently vacated by the death of Judge Ginsburg.”
The main Republicans justify their change of opinion with the current political situation: while Democratic President Barack Obama had a Republican Senate against him in 2016, this time the majority of the President and Senate are from the same camp.
“No one should be surprised that a Republican majority in the Senate voted on the nomination of a Republican president to the Supreme Court, even in a presidential election year,” Senator Lamar Alexander, 80, said Sunday. “The constitution gives senators the power to do so. The voters who voted for them expect that. “
Democrats want to appoint more judges
Along with the presidential elections, this year more than 35 seats will be voted in the Senate. According to polls, it cannot be ruled out that Republicans will lose both the White House and the Senate.
In the event that they do succeed in succeeding in replacing the Supreme Court, a radical solution is maturing in the minds of Democrats: an extension of the Supreme Court by two or four seats to dilute the conservative majority. Among other things, Senator Ed Markey (74) of Massachusetts came out in favor of this.
Meanwhile, presidential candidate Joe Biden (77) had repeatedly rejected such a plan. He didn’t even want to start something like that, Biden argued in the fall of last year. Next time, the other side will take over and add Richter as well, he warned. “We would rob the court of all credibility. (relationship)
The US presidential elections will be held on November 3, 2020. Current President Donald Trump is seeking a second term. Can he defend his position or will challenger Joe Biden win for the Democrats?
All current developments on elections and candidates are always available on the news ticker, and all articles on the subject can be found here on the US elections page.
