In a guest post published to SCOTUSblog, US president Barack Obama made it clear he intends to appoint a Supreme Court justice following the death of Antonin Scalia, despite near-universal opposition from Republican senators.
“It’s a duty that I take seriously, and one that I will fulfill in the weeks ahead,” he wrote. “It’s also one of the most important decisions that a president will make. Rulings handed down by the Supreme Court directly affect our economy, our security, our rights, and our daily lives.”
The president proceeded to detail the qualities he looks for in a Supreme Court appointee: a “sterling record,” a deep understanding of the limits of the judiciary’s role, and an ability to apply real-world experience and understanding to abstract legal theory.
Obama didn’t provide any potential names. Supreme Court watchers have mentioned US district court judge Sri Srinivasan, attorney general Loretta Lynch, and US appeal court Merrick Garland as possible nominees.