Since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia was announced, there has been debate about when to fill the the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. Dr. Timothy S. Huebner of the Department of History at Rhodes has published an op-ed in the New York Times that sheds light on the history of confirming court nominees in election years.
“Article II of the Constitution directs the president to nominate and, ‘by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate,’ appoint judges of the Supreme Court,” writes Huebner. “On 13 occasions, a vacancy on the nation’s highest court has occurred — through death, retirement or resignation — during a presidential election year.” Read more.