Senator Lisa Murkowski said on Sunday that she opposes the Senate voting for a nomination to replace the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before Inauguration Day in January 2021.
Murkowski said, in a statement: “For weeks, I have stated that I would not support taking up a potential Supreme Court vacancy this close to the election. Sadly, what was then a hypothetical is now our reality, but my position has not changed. I did not support taking up a nomination eight months before the 2016 election to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Justice Scalia. We are now even closer to the 2020 election – less than two months out – and I believe the same standard must apply.”
Four Republican Senators would need to stray from President Donald Trump’s plan for a pre-election-day vote in order to cause a delay. As of this writing, the only Republicans to pledge their stance against forcing a vote before Inauguration Day are Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Murkowski.
Senator Murkowski also did not approve a vote for President Barack Obama’s 2016 selection of Merrick Garland, to fill a void following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, citing similar reasons.
Similar to Murkowski, Senator Dan Sullivan also supported delaying a vote on Garland until after the 2016 election. He indicated that Alaskans deserved to have a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice, through their November 2016 vote. As of this publication, he has yet to voice opposition to the President’s plan.
The candidate polling highest in the race to unseat Sullivan in November, Dr. Al Gross, challenged Sullivan on social media: “Dan Sullivan, we both know it’s only fair to let the voters cast their ballots in November before we decide. Will you vote to confirm a new Supreme Court Justice before the next President is inaugurated?”