Senators speak after SCOTUS meeting
Posted: Wednesday, May 13, 2009 12:42 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under:
White House, Congress, Courts, John Yang
From NBC's John Yang
Republican Sens.
Mitch McConnell and
Jeff Sessions, and Democratic Sens.
Harry Reid and
Pat Leahy spoke to reporters after meeting with
President Obama on the Supreme Court vacancy.
McConnell said he saw no reason why someone couldn't be seated for the next court term as long as they weren't "controversial." Both said Obama did not float any names. Sessions said Obama did not give a time frame for an announcement, but said he didn't think one was "imminent.
Separately, Reid said the average time between an announcement and a hearing is 60 to 70 days, but said he would not be bound by artificial timelines. Leahy said it would be "irresponsible" not to have someone seated by beginning of the new Supreme Court term in October.