"The Justices are nominated by the President of the United States and appointed after confirmation by the United States Senate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Justices_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States
You know absolutely nothing of the political processes in this country!
The senior senator in the judicial district of the retiring judge has always picked the replacement, and the President accepts that nominee and formally nominates that judge. Then the senate holds confirmation hearings.
That is the way it has always been done.