Hartzler praises Blunt, Hawley for clearing the way for Trump to name nominee to carry on legacy of Ginsburg, Scalia

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Last week, the Supreme Court lost an icon of the institution after the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She served the Supreme Court dutifully and was respected for her candor in opinions and adherence to her beliefs. 

Her friendship with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative stalwart of the Court, set an example of how two people drawing such stark divides over important matters can still come together in moments of humanity and decency and serve the American people.

The passing of Justice Ginsburg means our country is once again at a crossroads as President Trump and our United States Senators consider the necessary qualities in a nominee to fill the Supreme Court vacancy. 

Earlier this week, I sent a letter to our two Senators representing Missouri, Senators Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley, thanking them for their commitment to move forward with hearings and a confirmation vote after President Trump announces his nominee this upcoming weekend.

In our nation’s history, there have been 29 Supreme Court nominations occurring during a presidential election. According to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the norm has been set by the Senate to confirm the nomination of a qualified Supreme Court nominee during an election year in times when both the White House and the Senate are controlled by the same party, with 18 of the 19 nominations confirmed under this set of circumstances. 

The current vacancy has arisen under these same circumstances. It is both proper and expected that the President nominate, and the Senate confirm, a new Justice as soon as possible.

When crafting the Constitution, our Founding Fathers were clear and deliberate in insulating the judicial branch from the tumult of political pressures and national discourse. Judicial independence protects the integrity of the Supreme Court of the United States as a fundamental American institution serving as the ultimate arbitrator of our nation’s laws.

Despite whatever political pressures may exist, the Constitution is explicitly clear in giving the President the duty to nominate and the Senate the duty to exercise its role of advice and consent. Both of our Senators have stood firm in their duty to ensure the vacancy on the court is filled judiciously and expeditiously within the process laid out by the Constitution.

I applaud their commitment to the Constitution and to ensuring the Supreme Court vacancy will be filled as soon as possible. I look forward to seeing a new Justice to carry on the legacy of committed service to our nation forged by past Justices like Ginsburg and Scalia.