Senator Hatch Makes the Case for Waiting to Fill Scalia’s Seat

Following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Senator Hatch—a former Chairman and currently the longest-serving member of the Senate Judiciary Committee—began making the case to the American people that the Senate should wait to fill Justice Scalia’s seat until after the presidential election. Senator Hatch has served on the Judiciary Committee for the confirmations of all sitting Supreme Court justices. Below is a sampling of Senator Hatch's statements. 

Fox: Video: Hatch Talks About Scalia, Appointment of New U.S. Supreme Court Justice

(Via YouTube)

“Senator Schumer said back in 2007, a year and a half before George Bush left office, that if a Supreme Court nominee came up, they would not do it because it was too late in his presidency. Well, now the shoe’s on the other foot, and we have this big uproar…

“If you’re not going to allow someone to be confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice, then why hold a hearing? That could be done just as soon, right after the first of the year.”

CNN: Video: Sen. Orrin Hatch: There is Value in Protecting the Integrity of the Court

(Via YouTube)

“The United States Senate has an absolute right to handle the nomination when it comes up.

“There is a real value in protecting the integrity of this court, which I’ve done in my whole 40 years in the United States Senate, by not letting it be in this tremendously volatile brouhaha known as the presidential election…I personally believe it ought to be put off until next year, and whoever is President will have the right to nominate whoever they want to.”  

CNN: Video: Sen. Orrin Hatch: What About the Constitution?

(Via YouTube)

Chris Cuomo: There’s every reason to give President Obama his constitutional authority right now. You don’t have to like who he nominates, but shouldn’t you go through the process?

Senator Hatch: No. I don’t think there’s any real reason to do that.

Cuomo: What about the Constitution?

Hatch: Well, the Constitution doesn’t require a vote.

Cuomo: But it does say that you should give advice and consent.

Hatch: You’re right, it gives the President the absolute right to nominate. But it gives the Senate an absolute right to confirm or not confirm."

Fox Business: Video: Sen. Orrin Hatch: Why Justice Scalia Shouldn’t Be Replaced Until the Next President

(Via YouTube)

“This President can nominate whoever he wants to; he has an absolute right to do that. But remember that the Senate, on the other hand, has an absolute right not to take it up if they think it’s the appropriate thing to do. They also have the right to handle it any way they want to. The Senate has the opportunity to confirm or not confirm, to bring up or not bring up.”

(Via YouTube)

“There have been 160 nominees to the Supreme Court throughout history:  36 of them have not

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