WASHINGTON (AP) — The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee predicts that President Barack Obama will nominate his next Supreme Court justice in time for hearings to wrap up this summer.
Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont says he expects that Justice John Paul Stevens’ successor will be on the bench for the fall term that begins in October.
Stevens says he will retire at the end of this year’s term.
The top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, isn’t ruling out a filibuster to stop a nominee if Republicans believe extraordinary measures are warranted. Without Democratic support, Republicans cannot vote down Obama’s nominee.
The senators spoke Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
