[Publius]

An individual seat on the Supreme Court can remain vacant forever. There is no constitutional requirement to appoint anybody.

Congress determines how many justices sit on the Supreme Court. Congress can increase or decrease the number of justices any time it chooses.

[ClarenceThomasfan]

I never thought I would say this but, "Go Lincoln Chaffee Go! We need to support Chaffee"

Expect the Rats(or Stevens himself) to release this info on Monday (after the Saddam verdict) to get their vote out.

[motife]

Right.

Obstructing an appointment going into the 2008 elections would be suicide for the Democrats.

It won't happen.

If Stevens retires or otherwise is gone, a Bush appointee, one way or another, will join the Court.

[BlackbirdSST]

An individual seat on the Supreme Court can remain vacant forever. There is no constitutional requirement to appoint anybody. Congress determines how many justices sit on the Supreme Court. Congress can increase or decrease the number of justices any time it chooses.

Makes sense, if the Party in control of the Congress has a mind to react the way you state, but IF it is controlled by the RAT's, then what's next. You state that the seat can stay vacant forever, that's the part I'm not so sure of. I've got a sense that you're right to some degree, just want to see it in black and white. I'm looking, but this could take a while for my self satisfaction. Thanks. Blackbird.