In accordance with Article II Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, President Trump has nominated an individual to fill the current Supreme Court vacancy. Now it’s the Senate’s turn to provide advice and consent through the confirmation process. This includes a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, an up-or-down committee vote, and a vote by the full Senate for final confirmation.

Since 1975, successful Supreme Court nominees have faced a confirmation process that varied from 19 days (Justice Stevens) to 99 days (Justice Thomas). The first woman Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O’Connor, was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed in 33 days—fewer than the 38 days between President Trump’s nomination announcement on September 26 and the 2020 election.*

There is enough time for the Senate to act and there is also historical precedent. The Supreme Court needs all nine seats filled and Senators should not be swayed by political voices. It’s the Senate’s Constitutional duty to expediently complete the confirmation process. Tell the Senate that you support a full and functioning Supreme Court.

UPDATE: This petition ended with the confirmation of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on October 26, 2020. The vote supporting filling the vacant Supreme Court seat was 52-48.

* Source: Tucker Higgins, “A Supreme Court confirmation before Election Day would be quick but not unprecedented.” Chart showing the length of each confirmation between 1975 and 2020. CNBC “Politics,” September 25, 2020, 6:22 pm (digital).