[SgtBob]

They need to just vote on the nominee.

There is nothing in the Constitution that says hearings must be held.

[Publius]

Prior to 1968, there were no hearings. A group of senators from the majority and minority interviewed the judicial candidate and reported back to the committee.

In 1968, LBJ attempted to move Justice Abe Fortas, his longtime political fixer, into Earl Warren's Chief Justice slot and move Homer Thornberry, another friend, into Fortas' slot. Everett Dirksen, the Republican minority leader, teamed with southern Democrats to prevent the departing LBJ from packing the Court with his liberal cronies. His tool was a committee hearing designed to bring out the dirt on the two candidates are keep the Warren slot open for Richard Nixon to fill. It worked.

Later, Fortas was forced off the Court when his involvement with crooked financier Leonard Wolfson became public.

[wildcard_redneck]

“They need to just vote on the nominee.

There is nothing in the Constitution that says hearings must be held.”

Absolutely