Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s battle with cancer is over but her death has sparked another partisan issue, in relation to her replacement in the Supreme Court. The question of whether the position left vacant by Justice Bader should set off before the November general election would not be an issue if the Republicans had not made a different ruling in 2016.
The filibuster ruling had barred then incumbent President Obama from appointing a replacement for Justice Anthony Scalia after his untimely demise in February 13, 2016. Being the ruling party in the Senate House, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel, suspended any hearing that would formally confirm President Obama’s appointee (Merrick Garland) as Justice Scalia’s replacement.
Rationale Behind Republican Senate’s 2016 Suspension of Obama’s Exercise of Filling Up Vacant SC Seat
Back then, Mitch McConnel, along with other Republicans were already of a mindset that no other Democratic-appointee will sit as a member of the U.S. Supreme until after the results of the 2016 general election declares a new U.S. president. In his announcement, McConnel argued that the American people have to have a say on who gets to appoint a new member of the Supreme Court.
Now that Justice Ginsberg’s death has turned the tables on the Republicans, Mitch McConnel is making it known that the rule will not apply to Donald Trump, even if there are only less than 45 days before the 2020 November election.
Apparently banking on the strength of the Republucan majority leadership, Mitch McConnel, the ruling party can confirm any appointee Trump names even if the November election is only less than 2 months away. However, with many Republucan senators running for re-election, a resolution to overturn the previous filibuster ruling might not muster majority votes.
However, a reversal of the 2016 filibuster ruling will put Republican senators who are up for re-election, in an awkward position. They will literally be baring themselves as Trumpets (Trump puppets) serving the interest of Donald Trump and not of their constituents.
As it is, Trump has been experiencing defeat in Supreme Court rulings, since even his appointee, Chief Justice John Roberts,had sided with the liberals in protecting former President Obama “Dreamers” program, which basically gives immigrants the right apply for U.S. citizenship.