8 Highly Qualified Candidates to Serve on the Supreme Court

It now seems highly likely that the next president of the United States will have the opportunity to nominate someone to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court created by the sudden passing of Justice Antonin Scalia. That may not be the only vacancy the president will have the opportunity to fill.

By the time the next president takes the oath of office on Jan. 20, 2017, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be 83 years old, Justice Anthony Kennedy will be 80 years old, and Justice Stephen Breyer will be 78 years old. And while I wish them all continued good health, it is a fact that the average life expectancy in this country is 76.30 years for males and 81.30 years for females.

Assuming thatthe next president serves an eight-year term, he or she could end up appointing one-third or more of the federal district court and appeals court judges. That is also worth bearing in mind when one considers that only a small fraction of cases end up getting reviewed by the Supreme Court.

The Constitution provides that “[t]he judicial Power of the United States shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.” The Constitution further providesthat “[t]he Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour[.]”

More