In the aftermath of Justice Antonin Scalia’s death on Saturday, there’s been a lot of debate over who should be nominated to the open seat in the Supreme Court. While Republican candidates like Ted Cruz have said that the decision should be left up to the newly elected President, President Obama has made it clear that he intends to nominate a candidate before his term is over. White House spokesman Eric Schultz says that “At that point, we expect the Senate to consider that nominee, consistent with their responsibilities laid out in the United States Constitution.”
Once news of Scalia’s death broke, there was an apparent consensus for who the President should nominate to fill his seat.
Could a black woman fill Scalia’s seat as a new justice? We look back some suggestions https://t.co/QZ18xTmpGu pic.twitter.com/OfZYoLvLXD
— The Root (@TheRoot) February 14, 2016
Think piece after think piece on Scalia. The think piece I wanna read: How Obama is nominating a Black woman for Supreme Court justice
— Dante Barry (@dantebarry) February 15, 2016
Now, in a rather poetic turn of events, attorney and legal scholar Anita Hill, who is most known for her controversial appearances before the Congressional committee during Justice Clarence Thomas’ confirmation hearings, has emerged as a potential nominee for the public. Hill became a cultural lightning rod in 1991 after she accused Thomas, who was then her boss at the U.S. Department of Education, of sexual harassment.
A Change.org petition calling for Hill’s nomination to the Supreme Court has been signed close to 6000 times, with popular support online.
Dear @BarackObama, Pro-tip-SCOTUS Justice Anita Hill has a nice ring to it. TY. Xoxo Jamia #BlackGirlMagic
— jamiaw (@jamiaw) February 14, 2016
Dear @POTUS,
Anita Hill is the only reasonable candidate for a SCOTUS nomination.
Much love. #AnitaHill4SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/1gNxbtfPrf
— Raquel Willis (@RaquelWillis_) February 14, 2016
This is all surreal. The Anita Hill film coming out and now, the perfect opportunity to finally put a Black women on the SCOTUS.
— jamilah lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) February 13, 2016
Anita Hill’s story will also be told in the HBO movie “Confirmation”, starring Kerry Washington as Hill and Wendell Pierce as Clarence Thomas.
Here it is! A FIRST LOOK at #Confirmation Check out this new trailer from @HBO & mark your calendars for April 16th!https://t.co/6YPNnDonkX
— kerry washington (@kerrywashington) February 12, 2016
The timing of all of this is intriguing to say the least. I think it’s pretty clear what 2nd term Obama has to do right? For Twitter’s sake at least.
