More Republicans Say They Will Refuse To Confirm A Supreme Court Justice

A rising chorus of voices in the GOP are saying that if Hillary Clinton wins the presidential election next week they will block her ability to appoint new Supreme Court justices. “If Hillary Clinton becomes president, I am going to do everything I can do to make sure four years from now, we still got an opening on the Supreme Court,” Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said in a meeting with GOP volunteers on Saturday, according to an audio recording obtained by CNN. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) have also spoken out about the court continuing to function with its outstanding vacancy, left after Justice Antonin Scalia died earlier this year. Rand Paul, Senator from Kentucky, said this week he “can’t imagine” voting for any Clinton nominee. The Supreme Court has had nine justices since 1869, and vacancies have typically been filled within months. However, on two occasions the Court has operated with just eight members for prolonged periods of time, most recently in 1969 and 1970.