Republican Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval is being vetted by The White House as a possible nominee to replace recently deceased Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia on the Court. The move is being viewed as a possible attempt to thwart the GOP’s vowed obstruction of any candidate President Obama nominates to fill the current vacancy.
Sandoval previously served as a district court judge and was confirmed by the Senate in 2005. He is one of the most popular governors in the nation and is considered a moderate within the party. On LGBT rights, Sandoval said he supported the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges and swore to fight those who sought to prevent gay marriages from being performed in the Silver State.
The New York Times reports:
The source, who asked not to be identified, said Sandoval met on Monday in the U.S. Capitol with Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, at which time Reid asked the governor whether he would be interested in being considered for the high court job.
“He said he was interested,” the source said, adding that “a number of people are being checked out” for the job.
Via The Washington Post, who first broke the story:
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, White House press secretary Josh Earnest would not comment specifically on whether the administration was considering Sandoval, on the grounds that he did not want “to get into a rhythm of responding” to every report on a potential nominee. But he said that Obama was committed to finding “the best person to fill the vacancy at the Supreme Court,” regardless of whether that person is a Democrat or Republican.
“The president’s focused on criteria that, frankly, is more important, and that is that individual’s qualifications, and their experience and their view of the law,” Earnest said. “That will take precedence over any sort of political consideration.”
Meanwhile, three Republican senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee have said a Sandoval nomination would not change their plans to obstruct any Obama nominee:
“This is not about the personality,” [Sen. Jeff] Cornyn [R-Texas] said on Wednesday afternoon.
“I don’t think so,” [Sen. Orrin] Hatch [R-Utah] said when asked if a Sandoval nomination would alter his thinking, adding he thought “very highly” of the GOP governor. Asked if Sandoval was qualified to serve on the court, Hatch said, “I wouldn’t make that judgment now.”
“The short answer is no, it doesn’t change anything,” said Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).
As far as how a Sandoval pick would play out in Democratic circles,WaPo has this to say:
But nominating Sandoval would carry risks for Obama. Sandoval is aligned with Democrats on some key issues, including abortion rights and the environment. As governor, he has moved to implement the Affordable Care Act, and has said he considers same-sex marriage to be a settled issue.
But Sandoval is not seen as labor-friendly — potentially alienating a swath of the Democratic base. His legal credentials are also lacking compared to some of the other names under consideration who are mainly sitting federal judges.
A Senate confirmation of Sandoval through this year could deny a Democratic successor to Obama, whether Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders, the opportunity to nominate a more orthodox liberal to the court and cement an ideological shift in its jurisprudence.
Earlier on Wednesday, President Obama wrote a guest post on SCOTUS blog describing what he’s looking for in a Supreme Court candidate.
You can watch the speech Sandoval made at the Republican National Convention back in 2012, below.
Well that didn’t take long.
After reports emerged Wednesday that Brian Sandoval, the Republican Governor of Nevada, was being vetted as a possible nominee to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court, Sandoval on Thursday said he would be taking himself out of the running for that post.
The Washington Post broke the story yesterday of Sandoval’s consideration, reporting that Sandoval told Sen. Minority Leader Harry Reid that he was interested in a spot on the Court. His tune has since changed.
The Huffington Post reports:
“Earlier today, I notified the White House that I do not wish to be considered at this time for possible nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States,” Sandoval said. “I have also spoken to Senators Reid, Heller and McConnell and expressed the same desire to them. The notion of being considered for a seat on the highest court in the land is beyond humbling and I am incredibly grateful to have been mentioned.” […]
Reid has maintained a friendship with Sandoval over the years that many have found remarkable given they come from different ends of the political spectrum:
“I don’t pick the justices, but I know if he were picked, I would support the man,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) told CNN Wednesday, trying to show his desire to compromise. “He’s a good person, has a great record, and has been a tremendously good governor in spite of having to deal with some very big problems there.”
Reid no doubt knew the trouble Sandoval would cause for the GOP. As John Fund of the conservative National Review put it, “How better to apply pressure than to appoint a Hispanic Republican — and former federal judge — who might fracture the united front of GOP senators who have come out against an Obama nomination?”
Senator Heller, Nevada’s Republican Senator, supported Sandoval’s decision to withdraw but had also said he would support him if Obama nominated him to the Supreme Court. Via ABC News:
Heller, Nevada’s junior senator, reacted to Sandoval’s decision, saying in a statement, “As a friend and former colleague of Governor Sandoval’s, I believe he is eminently qualified for this position. But, I support his decision to withdraw his name from consideration for the Supreme Court vacancy. I hope the next president will consider him in the future.”
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