President Biden vowed Thursday to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court by the end of February

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

President Biden vowed Thursday to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court by the end of February, saying “it’s long overdue.” His pledge came during a White House event with Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who told Biden in a letter released Thursday that he plans to retire at the end of the court’s current term, assuming his replacement is nominated and confirmed.

“I’m here today to express the nation’s gratitude to Justice Stephen Breyer for his remarkable career of public service and his clear-eyed commitment to making our country’s laws work for its people,” Biden said of Breyer, 83, who was nominated to the court in 1994 by President Bill Clinton.

Biden promised during the 2020 campaign to select a Black woman for any vacancy and maintained Thursday that he would fulfill that pledge. “I will select a nominee worthy of Justice Breyer’s legacy of excellence and decency,” Biden said.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/01/27/stephen-breyer-supreme-court-retire-live-updates/

[Auggie]

1. Why wait?

I understand the importance of vetting, but our Senate majority is extraordinarily tenuous.

[brooklynite]

2. Why what?

[NurseJackie]

10. It's also a great opportunity to ride a wave of positivity... let people enjoy the moment...

It's also a great opportunity to ride a wave of positivity... let people enjoy the moment of an historical campaign promise being fulfilled. Additionally, if there's a hint of scandal about anyone on the short list then the media might be able to uncover things that other people believe to be adequately hidden or explainable BEFORE they're actually nominated.

There's no particular hurry.

[CapnSteve]

3. My pick: Justice Michelle Obama!

[onenote]

4. Many reasons why she won't and shouldn't be the pick

Reason one —. The nominee should be closer to 50 than 60

Reason two — The nominee should have experience that qualifies her for the position.

[CapnSteve]

6. Buzzkill. 😁

[cstanleytech]

8. I would rather have someone that has actually been a judge

and preferably only in family court as that is something that has been sadly lacking for SCOTUS.

[TygrBright]

5. This means he's already got a short list and maybe a preferred pick.

He'll use the next 2-3 weeks to triangulate, send out stalking horses, surface where the potential landmines are being placed, build consensus, and assemble evidence and tools to squash the most likely to emerge stupid RW opposition talking points.

Smart strategy.

approvingly,
Bright

[MichMan]

7. I didn't know you could nominate and confirm someone before the current occupant left.

I assumed that Breyer would have to resign before the nomination and confirmation process would start.

If so, why not nominate three of four more, so they are waiting in the wings in case there are any future openings?

[UnderThisLaw]

9. That's the great thing

about DU. We all learn a lot here.

[Polybius]

13. If Biden nominated "three or four" it wouldn't be fair to them

There is no guarantee that anyone other than Stephen Breyer will leave during Biden's term. It could just get their hopes up for nothing.

[jgmiller]

14. I never thought of that but

that would never fly, I doubt even dems would vote for it in Senate.

On a practical level I don't think there is any rule that new justices are sworn in on the first Monday in October but that's why it always has happened so even if a new justice is confirmed before the end of the term Breyer has resigned effective then and the justice won't be sworn in until October so there is no overlap.

I do completely expect some idiot GOP senator to try using the "Breyer isn't gone yet" stunt to delay the vote though.

[ck4829]

12. Kick

Last edited Tue Mar 1, 2022, 10:54 AM - Edit history (1)

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