[TakebackGOP]

The President decides?

[Hieronymus]

The President decides?

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The President nominates, the Senate Confirms.

Reagan decided to elevate a sitting Justice (Renquist) and when he was confirmed as Chief Justice then nominated IIRC Kennedy (it may have been Scalia) to fill the now vacant associate spot.

When Renquist went, Bush decided to nominate Roberts directly from wherever he had been to Chief Justice.