SCOTUS Watch: President Bush to Fill Supreme Court Vacancies Promptly

U.S. President George W. Bush addresses the nation from the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. September 4, 2005. Bush expressed his condolences to the family of Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who died Saturday after battling thyroid cancer since October, and pledged on Sunday to move quickly to nominate a successor to Rehnquist, whose death opens a second spot on the high court for the president to fill.

Reusters has Bush: fill Supreme Court vacancies promptly.

President George W. Bush on Sunday said the death of Chief Justice
William Rehnquist was a “great loss” of a powerful intellect, and pledged to move quickly to nominate a successor to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“There are now two vacancies on the Supreme Court and it will serve the best interests of the nation to fill those vacancies promptly,” Bush said. “I will choose in a timely manner a highly qualified nominee to succeed Chief Justice Rehnquist.”

Rehnquist’s body will lie in repose at the Supreme Court this week before he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a court spokeswoman said. Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington.

Bush praised the career of Rehnquist, a conservative justice who pushed the closely divided nine-member court to the right in his more than 30 years on the bench.

“I was honored and I was deeply touched when he came to the Capitol for the swearing-in last January,” Bush said of the ailing chief justice’s appearance at his second inauguration.

“He was a man of character and dedication. His departure represents a great loss for the court and for our country.”

Flags flew at half-staff over the White House and other government buildings in Washington on Sunday to honor Rehnquist.

It is good news that the President will move quickly to fill Rehnquist’s seat on the court.

Flap handicaps that either current Justice Clarence Thomas or Antonin Scalia will be nominated to be Chief Justice. The edge goes to Thomas due to the “age” factor.

The next Associate Justice nominee will be a woman:

Janice Rogers Brown