Hogan Warns Against Rushed, Partisan Vote On Ginsburg's Successor

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Gov. Larry Hogan cautioned the U.S. Senate against speedily confirming a Supreme Court justice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The justice served 27 years on the nation's highest court before she died Friday with complications of metastatic pancreas cancer. She was 87.

Hogan, a Republican, called out the confirmation push in a Wednesday interview with The Texas Tribune. He said legislators should not let ideological divides affect a nonpartisan court.

"We should not be playing partisan games with the Supreme Court," Hogan told The Tribune. "It would be a mistake for the Senate to ram through a nominee on a partisan line vote, just as it would be a tragic mistake to question the integrity of the court or even pack the court."

President Donald Trump said he plans to announce his nominee for the vacancy by Friday or Saturday, leaving the Senate with the responsibility of voting on their confirmation. Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell a Republican from Kentucky, insists that his chamber will vote on Trump's nominee before the Nov. 3 presidential election.

This decision has drawn pushback. Critics say the process would be too rushed. They also claim that the move contradicts a precedent set in 2016 when the Republican-controlled Senate refused to consider a nominee after Justice Antonin Scalia died. Republicans said that confirmation should wait until after the pending presidential election.

McConnell says his decision to vote on Trump's forthcoming nominee does not contradict his 2016 actions. He says the Senate should never vote on a court nominee during a presidential election year when the White House and Senate are controlled by different parties.

The president in 2016, Barack Obama, was a Democrat. Republicans held the majority in the Senate that year. Since Republicans currently control both the presidency and the Senate, McConnell believes his move does not violate a precedent.

Hogan also warned against court packing. This is the signing of a law that increases the number of justices presiding over the Supreme Court. Packing the courts would allow a single president to appoint a flurry of new justices, influencing the court for decades.

The number of justices has fluctuated over time, as the Constitution does not mandate a specific number. Congress holds the legal authority to propose a change in the number of justices.

Reports have rumored that Democrats are discussing an attempt to pack the courts, should their presidential nominee, Joe Biden, win the presidency. Hogan said this could be just as detrimental.

"I think there's just more than enough hypocrisy to go around on both sides," he said. "The American people deserve a dignified process."

Democratic President Bill Clinton appointed Ginsburg in 1993. She was best known for her fight against gender discrimination.

"We can't let her death create more division in our country," Hogan said.

Associated Press reporters Jonathan Lemire, Lisa Mascaro, Alexandra Jaffe, Laurie Kellman, Mark Sherman and Zeke Miller contributed reporting to this story.

RELATED:

• Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Liberal Stalwart, Dies At 87
• As Democrats Balk, Trump To Make High Court Pick By Saturday

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