Senate Republicans hope to seat a new justice on the Supreme Court by the start of the next term, which could require a rapid confirmation process in the face of heated political opposition from Democrats.
“If we are going to have a fully functioning court when they convene in October, that would seem to convey a sense of urgency,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, told the Washington Examiner.
The Senate typically takes more than two months to confirm a Supreme Court justice from the time the president chooses a nominee.
In this instance, lawmakers could easily finish vetting and voting on a nominee by Oct. 1, which is the start of the Supreme Court’s next term.
Justice Anthony Kennedy, who announced his retirement Wednesday, plans to leave the court on July 31.
Republican aides said lawmakers are aiming for a September vote, which, if President Trump picks someone soon, would give the Senate more than two months to hold meetings, a confirmation hearing, and other vetting procedures.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., recently canceled the August recess, which has opened up four otherwise dark weeks for the Senate to hold meetings and a confirmation hearing with the nominee.
It’s not clear when Trump will select a nominee. He told reporters he would pick someone from a monthsold list vetted by conservative groups.
On Capitol Hill Thursday, Senate Democrats positioned themselves for a fight as they face pressure from progressive groups who want the party to find a way to block a nominee.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is demanding Republicans postpone a vote until after the 2018 midterm elections and is urging the public to flood Senate offices with calls in opposition to any Trump nominee, who Schumer said would be too conservative and would lead the court to end abortion rights.
“Tell your senators that if you do not want a Supreme Court Justice who will overturn Roe v. Wade, those Senators should not vote for a candidate from the list,” he said.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said he’ll hold a hearing “in the weeks ahead” and called for Trump to pick “a nominee with the credentials, intellect, and commitment to the rule of law necessary to serve on the Supreme Court.”
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the senior lawmaker on the Judiciary Committee who has also presided over confirmation hearings as a former panel chairman, told the Washington Examiner he believes the new justice will be seated by Oct. 1, even though it won’t be easy.
“It’s going to be hard,” he acknowledged. “It can be done, there is no reason why we can’t do it, just that it’s going to be hard.”
