A recess appointment can be made without Senate confirmation.
Its only temporary and expires within two years or whatever the term limit is of the appointment.
A recess appointment doesn’t put a nominee on the Supreme Court for life.
“A recess appointment can be made without Senate confirmation.
Its only temporary and expires within two years or whatever the term limit is of the appointment.
A recess appointment doesn’t put a nominee on the Supreme Court for life.”
All true. But given that Mitch McConnell has ensured that there hasn’t been a Senate recess since Justice Scalia died, and will ensure that there isn’t one prior to noon on January 20, President Obama won’t be able to name even a temporary Justice.
I’ve had many differences with Senator McConnell through the year, but I’ve got to admit that he’s proven to have balls of steel in dealing with the Supreme Court vacancy. I never thought that Senate Republicans would stay firm and not only stay in session throughout, but also refuse to hold hearings on Obama’s nominee. Mitch McConnell deserves credit for this, as does Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who stayed firm despite being up for reelection in a state that voted twice for Obama (and twice for Bill Clinton).
May all Senate Republicans show this much spine in the crucial battles coming up over the next few years.