09.21.20

Hoeven Statement on Supreme Court Nomination

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven issued the following statement regarding the President’s intent to nominate an Associate Justice for the Supreme Court:

“When a vacancy occurs on the Supreme Court in an election year and the Presidency and the Senate are controlled by the same party, the precedent has been for the President’s nominee to get a vote on confirmation. That is the case in this election year and we should go forward accordingly.

“In 2016, we had a different situation. We had divided government and the Presidency and the Senate were held by different parties. When a vacancy has occurred on the Supreme Court under that circumstance, the precedent since the 1880s has been to wait for the people to break the tie in the election.

“I look forward to voting on the President’s nominee, and that person should be someone who will uphold the law and not legislate from the bench. That is what I believe is best for North Dakota and the nation.”  

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