Obama Plans To Nominate Successor To SCOTUS Justice Antonin Scalia
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CALIFORNIA (AP/CBSDFW.COM) — President Barack Obama says he plans to fulfill his constitutional responsibility and nominate a successor to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Scalia was found dead on Saturday in West Texas.
In a direct rebuttal to Senate Republicans, Obama said in a statement Saturday evening there is plenty of time for the Senate to confirm his choice. Some Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said the decision should rest with the next president in January 2017.
#NEW #Republicans say the next President should nominate a successor to #SCOTUS Justice #Scalia who was a 5th conservative on court @CBSDFW
— Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) February 14, 2016
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who is vying for the Republican presidential nomination, tweeted earlier Saturday saying the next president should be the one to nominate a successor.
Justice Scalia was an American hero. We owe it to him, & the Nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next President names his replacement.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 13, 2016
Obama pointedly called the decision "bigger than any one party." He said it is about democracy.
Obama praised the late justice as a brilliant legal mind who influenced generations of lawyers and students.
Read CBS News' full coverage here.
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