# What can stop the GOP from filling Supreme Court vacancies? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 12, 2026, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216 "2026-04-12T11:48:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/21 "2026-04-13T14:44:47Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Don’t worry, it’s a Republican policy to not confirm any Supreme Court justices in an election year. I think this was said with just a hint of sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/22 "2026-04-13T15:04:58Z")
A hint! [It’s off the scale](https://simpsons.fandom.com/wiki/Sarcasm_Detector)! ---
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/23 "2026-04-17T17:20:03Z")
The morning after a Democratic rout: Clarence Thomas takes out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal: “Let the Bidding Begin! [signed} Clarence Thomas, future ex-Supreme Court Justice.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/24 "2026-04-17T17:27:35Z")
I assume by “Democratic rout” you mean a rout _of_ Democrats, not _by_ Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/25 "2026-04-17T17:29:45Z")
By Democrats, so that the Republicans can fill the seat during the lame duck session. Thomas offers himself up for sale, the NYT headline: In an unusual move, a Justice takes out an ad. ---
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/26 "2026-04-17T17:32:25Z")
As per the OP, a rout BY Democrats. Thomas has already shown he’ll do anything for $$$, and violate his every principle for $$$$$$$$$. To suggest that he would let his ego, or his desire to stay on the Court, or anything, overrule his desire for bucks is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/27 "2026-04-17T17:42:13Z")
Yeah. Thanks. I knew what you meant about rout but stupidly said it backwards. Dems win, Thomas sells his resignation to a fascist high bidder, and the lame duck Rs name a fascist college student to replace him. Who’ll then issue fascist opinions for 50+ years. ---
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/28 "2026-04-17T17:43:38Z")
That’s my scenario. Can anyone give me one good reason that wouldn’t happen? ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/29 "2026-04-17T17:47:00Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#): > > Thomas has already shown he’ll do anything for $$$, and violate his every principle for $$$$$$$$$. He’s shown the only principle he’s interested in is the kind that accumulates compound interest. ---
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/30 "2026-04-17T17:48:37Z")
And nobody make me laugh too hard by using words like “shame,” “embarrassment,” “tradition,” “decency” or “principle” in your answer, please. I have a hernia and can’t take too much laughter. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/31 "2026-04-17T17:49:19Z")
Thats a principle about principal. Mo’ is bettah and mo’ mo’ is mo’ bettah. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/32 "2026-04-17T18:01:09Z")
What besides death, retirement or impeachment/conviction can remove a Supreme Court justice from office? Suppose a justice suffers a brain aneurysm that puts him in a vegetative state. Is the only way to remove him is to go through the impeachment process? Because in that case, I think the Reps would want to fast-track the process while the Dems would have ample opportunities to drag their feet so that the selection of a new justice would happen after they’ve taken the majority. Except for that unlikely scenario, I think we’re screwed. ---
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/33 "2026-04-17T18:06:53Z")
What the Dems OUGHT to do is have a bill put up for a vote RIGHT NOW that would forbid such a scenario from taking place. It wouldn’t pass, of course, unless Republicans up for a seat in November see their NO vote as an additional reason for voters to throw them out of office. Even if it fails, it puts the GOP on record as favoring shameless corruption. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/34 "2026-04-17T18:10:57Z")
> [@hideousidiot](#): > > Even if it fails, it puts the GOP on record as favoring shameless corruption. Whoa, that will surely be their undoing! ---
**Author:** ![hideousidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/858c86/32.png) [@hideousidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hideousidiot)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216/35 "2026-04-17T18:13:45Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > that will surely be their undoing! Nah, though if it gets the Dems an extra seat or two in a close race, all the better. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-stop-the-gop-from-filling-supreme-court-vacancies/1029216.md?page=1)