ARKANSAS, USA — Senator John Boozman (R-AR) has commented on the vacant Supreme Court seat following Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death and the political battle over filling her seat before the general election on Nov. 3.
"There is no room to dispute the constitutional authority President Trump has to nominate an individual to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. Likewise, the Senate can also choose to exercise its role in confirming a nominee to the nation's highest court. Historically, in a presidential election year, when a U.S. President and the Senate majority represent the same political party, a new justice has been nominated and confirmed. I have confidence that my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee will give the president's nominee a thorough hearing so the full Senate can have a fair and thoughtful debate and vote on the merits of President Trump's nominee."
In 2016, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, Senator Boozman released the following statement about filling a vacant Supreme Court seat under the Obama administration:
“The President has a Constitutional right to nominate a candidate to fill this vacancy, but the Senate has made it clear that we do not intend move forward on it. The Constitution clearly defines the roles of each branch and the President's ends with selecting a candidate for the vacancy.
For Senator Reid and his caucus to claim the Senate must vote on this nominee is not only a display of Constitutional ignorance, but highly hypocritical given the words and actions of Senate Democrats in previous election years and the precedent followed for decades in terms of considering Supreme Court vacancies during lame duck presidencies.
Our country is very split and we are in the midst of a highly contested presidential election. My colleagues and I are committed to giving the American people a voice in the direction the court will take for generations to come.”
President Trump said Monday (Sept. 21) he expects to announce his pick for the Supreme Court by week's end.
Democrats, led by presidential nominee Joe Biden, are pushing back against the Republicans' rush to replace Ginsburg, saying voters should speak first, on Election Day, Nov. 3, and the winner of the White House should fill the vacancy.
Democrats say it is disingenuousness of Republicans to trying and rush through a pick so close to the election after refusing to do so for President Barack Obama in February 2016.
Biden is appealing to GOP senators to delay the vote until after the election.
Ginsberg's casket is to be on view mid-week on the iconic steps outside the court and later at the Capitol. She is to be buried next week in a private service at Arlington National Cemetery.