Conservatives and liberal advocacy groups are gearing for a pivotal battle in the next president's picks to fill the vacancy in the Supreme Court justice seat. The sudden vacancy is prompted by the sudden death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Sacalia's death tilts the balance in the high court. Prior to his death, the Supreme Court had four justices appointed by Democratic presidents who are liberal and five Republican appointees that included him. Now the future of the partisan balance in the high court remains to be determined by the next nominee and is now at the center of the ongoing presidential campaign.
Several senatorial candidates believe that the appointment of nominees should be done in the next administration, particularly on the republican side, Washington Post reported. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell alongside Republican Senators Rob Portman of Ohio, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin share this view.
In response, the White House through its press secretary, Eric Shultz, said on Monday that President Obama intends to make the lifetime appointment to "fulfill his constitutional responsibility," Houston Chronicle reported.
"We need a fully staffed Supreme Court," Shultz said before quoting President Ronald Raegan in 1988, "Every day that passes with a Supreme Court below full strength impairs the people's business in that crucially important body."
Liberal and conservative activists encourage voters to consider the membership in the high court when casting their presidential votes, New York Post reported.
Despite opposition to immediately fill the vacancy in the high court, the White House remains optimistic that Senate will hold a confirmation hearing and vote for the nominee. However, Obama's nominee is not assured of getting the votes needed for confirmation. Currently there are 46 seats filled by Democrats in the Senate. The nominee will need at least 51 or 60 votes to get past the hurdle.
