The sudden and unexpected death of Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Scalia has caused turmoil among the Republican establishment. With President Obama having 11 months left in office, who he decides as a replacement will have a far-reaching impact on the court and America for decades. Republican obstructionists took no time in declaring that they will stop whoever Obama appoints to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.
Fortunately, these opponents of Obama have very little choice in the matter because the U.S. Constitution clearly states it is the president who appoints a Supreme Court judge, not Congress. Frightening the Republican controlled Senate are five possible and very strong candidates who are reportedly on Obama’s short list of Scalia successors. Here are five Supreme Court nominees that are giving the Republican establishment nightmares:
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch
Loretta Lynch is the first Black woman to serve as the country’s highest law enforcement officer. Appointed by President Obama in 2015, her nomination to her current position sailed through the confirmation process with very little Republican opposition. Lynch was the former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York that covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island. Lynch was born in North Carolina and received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Harvard University.
