By Thomas Ferraro and Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said on Tuesday that any of the possible Supreme Court nominees now being considered by President Barack Obama would win Senate confirmation.
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, a liberal who is one of the oldest and longest-serving justices, announced he will retire this summer, setting up what could be a bruising and distracting confirmation fight in the Senate over the Democratic president's nominee.
Leahy, a Democrat, declined to identify or say how many possible candidates are on Obama's list. But he told Reuters: 'I guarantee you, the people the president is thinking about -- anyone of them will get through.'
Obama has said he wants Stevens' successor confirmed before the next Supreme Court term begins in October, and Leahy said that would be done.
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, told of Leahy's comment, replied: 'That's probably true. (But) it depends on who it is. I can't see the president deliberately provoking a fight over this.'
Obama invited four senators, including Leahy and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, to meet with him at the White House next Wednesday to discuss selection of a nominee to replace Stevens.
McConnell, who last year opposed Obama's first Supreme Court pick, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, said Republicans would 'diligently review' the record of any Obama nominee.
'We are hopeful that this time around the president will select someone with extensive real-world legal experience and a demonstrated commitment to the rule of law,' McConnell said.
Leahy, who as judiciary committee chairman will preside over the eventual nominee's confirmation hearing, said he aims to get the person confirmed by the full Senate before the Senate's August recess.
'We will get this done,' Leahy said. 'The nominee will be confirmed by the summer.'
Senate Republicans have said they don't expect to mount a procedural roadblock against Obama's eventual nominee -- unless the person is out of the judicial mainstream.
It would take 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to clear such a roadblock. Democrats control the chamber, 59-41.
Leahy said he has had private discussions with Obama about possible nominees. 'I've made a number of recommendations to the president,' he said.
MEETING NEXT WEEK
Obama may receive additional recommendations at his White House meeting next week with Leahy and McConnell along with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Senator Jeff Sessions, the Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican.
Stevens, who turns 90 next week, is one of the oldest and longest-serving justices ever. He announced last week that he will retire one day after the court's current term ends, which is expected in late June.
Obama is expected to nominate a moderate liberal to replace Stevens and then push to win Senate confirmation for the lifetime appointment. The eventual nominee is not expected to change the overall ideological balance of the court, which has five conservatives and four liberals.
The confirmation process could dominate Congress for weeks and make it tougher for Obama's fellow Democrats to focus on reducing the U.S. unemployment rate, expected to be a major issue in the November congressional elections, as well as other legislation.
Obama administration officials and legal experts said current Solicitor General Elena Kagan and U.S. appeals court judges Diane Wood and Merrick Garland were expected to be among leading candidates to replace Stevens.
(Additional reporting by Steve Holland, editing by Jackie Frank) (202 898 8300; thomas.ferraro@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy said on Tuesday that any of the possible Supreme Court nominees now being considered by President Barack Obama would win Senate confirmation.
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, a liberal who is one of the oldest and longest-serving justices, announced he will retire this summer, setting up what could be a bruising and distracting confirmation fight in the Senate over the Democratic president's nominee.
Leahy, a Democrat, declined to identify or say how many possible candidates are on Obama's list. But he told Reuters: 'I guarantee you, the people the president is thinking about -- anyone of them will get through.'
Obama has said he wants Stevens' successor confirmed before the next Supreme Court term begins in October, and Leahy said that would be done.
Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, told of Leahy's comment, replied: 'That's probably true. (But) it depends on who it is. I can't see the president deliberately provoking a fight over this.'
Obama invited four senators, including Leahy and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, to meet with him at the White House next Wednesday to discuss selection of a nominee to replace Stevens.
McConnell, who last year opposed Obama's first Supreme Court pick, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, said Republicans would 'diligently review' the record of any Obama nominee.
'We are hopeful that this time around the president will select someone with extensive real-world legal experience and a demonstrated commitment to the rule of law,' McConnell said.
Leahy, who as judiciary committee chairman will preside over the eventual nominee's confirmation hearing, said he aims to get the person confirmed by the full Senate before the Senate's August recess.
'We will get this done,' Leahy said. 'The nominee will be confirmed by the summer.'
Senate Republicans have said they don't expect to mount a procedural roadblock against Obama's eventual nominee -- unless the person is out of the judicial mainstream.
It would take 60 votes in the 100-member Senate to clear such a roadblock. Democrats control the chamber, 59-41.
Leahy said he has had private discussions with Obama about possible nominees. 'I've made a number of recommendations to the president,' he said.
MEETING NEXT WEEK
Obama may receive additional recommendations at his White House meeting next week with Leahy and McConnell along with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Senator Jeff Sessions, the Judiciary Committee's ranking Republican.
Stevens, who turns 90 next week, is one of the oldest and longest-serving justices ever. He announced last week that he will retire one day after the court's current term ends, which is expected in late June.
Obama is expected to nominate a moderate liberal to replace Stevens and then push to win Senate confirmation for the lifetime appointment. The eventual nominee is not expected to change the overall ideological balance of the court, which has five conservatives and four liberals.
The confirmation process could dominate Congress for weeks and make it tougher for Obama's fellow Democrats to focus on reducing the U.S. unemployment rate, expected to be a major issue in the November congressional elections, as well as other legislation.
Obama administration officials and legal experts said current Solicitor General Elena Kagan and U.S. appeals court judges Diane Wood and Merrick Garland were expected to be among leading candidates to replace Stevens.
(Additional reporting by Steve Holland, editing by Jackie Frank) (202 898 8300; thomas.ferraro@thomsonreuters.com) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.