As Maine’s congressional delegation issued statements reflecting on the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rep. Chellie Pingree and Sen. Angus King have both declared their opposition to the confirmation of a potential replacement for the legendary justice before the Nov. 3 election.
“With less than 50 days until the upcoming election — and with an anxious, divided America watching — Senator McConnell should honor the life and legacy of this icon by respecting her final wish that a successor should not be considered until the election has been decided,” King said.
Pingree agreed, saying “the Senate should not confirm anyone for this seat until the voters have spoken. Senate Republicans refused to consider President [Barack] Obama’s nominee for SCOTUS at the end of his presidency and President [Donald] Trump should be given the exact same treatment.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to hold hearings for Merrick Garland, Obama’s last nominee for the Supreme Court in 2016, arguing that the nomination should not be filled in a presidential election year.
Sen. Susan Collins also stated her opposition to the confirmation of a new justice “prior to the election,” but signaled that she would support Trump and Senate leadership in beginning the nominating and vetting process before that time.
“President Trump has the constitutional authority to make a nomination to fill the Supreme Court vacancy, and I would have no objection to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s beginning the process of reviewing his nominee’s credentials,” Collins said.
Rep. Jared Golden has not yet weighed in on the possible confirmation of a new justice. He issued a statement expressing his gratitude for Ginsburg’s service.
“This is a terrible loss for our country,” Golden said. “She takes a place among this nation’s revered and accomplished justices, and has been an inspiration for millions fighting for fairness and equality.”
Republicans push forward with SCOTUS nominee
McConnell has indicated that he will pursue the confirmation of a new justice soon, before the election and while the Republican party holds a firm majority of Senate seats.
President Donald Trump said Monday that he would announce a replacement for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg by either Friday or Saturday.
During a morning interview on “Fox and Friends,” the president said the administration wanted to pay its respects to Ginsburg, who died Friday night from complications with cancer, before announcing a nominee later this week.
Ginsburg, 87, was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court and is praised as a champion for women’s rights. The Supreme Court announced that Ginsburg will lie in repose at the Supreme Court on Wednesday and Thursday and will lie at the Capitol on Friday.
Trump said he has narrowed his pick to five women. That shortlist includes Judge Amy Coney Barrett of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in Chicago, Judge Barbara Lagoa of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta, Judge Allison Jones Rushing of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in Richmond and Kate Todd, a deputy White House counsel.
The president did not disclose his other picks during Monday’s interview. He did also refer to “a great one from Michigan,” and the Detroit News said his reference was to Michigan federal appeals judge Joan Larsen.
“They’re all very smart,” Trump said.
The president nominated Barrett for the 7th Circuit, which runs jurisdiction in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois, in 2017. Her anti-abortion views have made her a favorite among conservatives.
She also clerked for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia after she graduated from Notre Dame University Law School.
Rushing was also nominated by Trump in 2018 to serve in the 4th Circuit, which includes Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia. She also clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas and was a partner at Williams & Connolly in Washington, D.C.
But Lagoa, who has strong ties to Florida — a key battleground state for the president and his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Joe Biden — is also a top contender.
The 11th circuit runs jurisdiction in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.
“She’s excellent,” Trump said. “She’s Hispanic.”
Lagoa is the daughter of Cuban immigrants and was born in Miami, where Trump and Biden are vying for Latino support.
The president said the Senate would have “plenty of time,” to confirm his nominee to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court before November’s presidential election.
Photo: Sen. Angus King via Twitter
Ariana Figueroa contributed to this report. She is a reporter in the States Newsroom Washington, D.C, bureau.
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