Three Things You Probably Don’t Know About SCOTUS

Navigating the nomination process for the next potential Supreme Court Justice.

shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint … Judges of the Supreme Court…

The Constitution's Appointments Clause is silent about when nominations should be made for the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and says nothing about timing of SCOTUS nominations during election years, NOR qualities of a nominee - they don't even have to have a legal degree.

Senate Judiciary Committee authorizes investigation & holds public hearings

Cmte. votes whether to recommend nominee to full Senate. If votes in favor, nomination goes to full Senate.

51 votes needed to stop debate and move to the vote.

51 votes required to confirm the nominee.

A simple majority will approve the nominee, clearing the path to the court.

 and the nominee could still be confirmed because Vice President Mike Pence gets the tie-breaking vote in a 50-50 scenario.

 regardless of the party of the President or majority in the Senate (not all are confirmed by a large majority).

In recent years, the nomination process has taken 

If we look at the confirmation process for sitting Justices, we see a 

: Chief Justice Roberts was confirmed in 23 days. Justice Clarence Thomas was confirmed in 99 days.

While many look to Election Day as a deadline for the nominee's approval, the current Senate can vote anytime before the next Congress takes office on January 3, 2021. That said, this is "the closest high court opening to a presidential election in more than 150 years," according to The Washington Post.