WASHINGTON - An epic Washington political battle is taking shape after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Senate Republicans are digging and say they would refuse to act on any Supreme Court nomination by President Obama. But the White House vows to select a nominee within weeks.

Multiple Republican senators said they strongly supported the position of Senator Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and majority leader, that the high court vacancy should not be filled until after the presidential election, denying Mr. Obama a chance to reconfigure the ideological makeup of the court in the last year of his second term.

“I don’t see anyone getting confirmed,” said Senator Mike Lee, a Utah Republican who sits on the Judiciary Committee, which would consider any nomination. “I suspect that probably means no hearings.” Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida, both Republican presidential contenders, echoed that view in television appearances.

Despite the deep resistance, the White House was moving ahead but noted that Mr. Obama would not immediately announce his court choice.

“Given that the Senate is currently in recess, we don’t expect the president to rush this through this week, but instead will do so in due time once the Senate returns from their recess,” said Eric Schultz, the deputy press secretary.

Administration officials would not discuss a specific timetable for choosing a nominee, though a senior official pointed out that Mr. Obama made both his previous Supreme Court nominations — of Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan — about 30 days after their predecessors announced they were stepping down from the court. Mr. Obama faces a complicated calculus in his selection. “As the president said last night, he takes his constitutional responsibility seriously and will approach this nomination with the time and rigor required,” said Mr. Schultz.

The stance against even considering a nominee puts Senate Republicans in the politically charged position of defying the president on a crucial court opening in the heat of the presidential campaign — and while also trying to hold on to their majority in the Senate. (Source: New York Times)

Story Date: February 15, 2016