If a Supreme Court justice retires or dies in the next two years…..

[Mr. Morden]

If a Supreme Court justice retires or dies in the next two years, will his/her successor be confirmed by the Senate, or will the vacancy drag out at least into 2017?  Keep in mind, the last time we had a Supreme Court vacancy when the presidency and Senate were controlled by opposite parties was 1991 with the Clarence Thomas appointment, so we have yet to see how such a scenario will play during the current, more partisan, era.

I suppose if Ginsburg retires, then her replacement would presumably be of a similar ideological bent, and it wouldn't shift the balance on the court.  But imagine if one of the conservative justices were to drop dead in January 2015.  A likely Obama-nominated replacement would have the potential to shift the ideological balance on the court quite substantially, which is why the GOP Senate might just delay the confirmation vote indefinitely.

[Mr. Morden]

After seeing five ellipsis I was sure Winfield made this thread.

Hey, I tried to fit the full sentence in the subject line, but it wouldn't fit.

[Mr. Morden]

*bump*

But imagine if one of the conservative justices were to drop dead in January 2015.  A likely Obama-nominated replacement would have the potential to shift the ideological balance on the court quite substantially, which is why the GOP Senate might just delay the confirmation vote indefinitely.

I will now accept my accolades.