Durbin shoots down idea of replacing Sotomayor before next Trump administration

Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin on Tuesday shot down calls for the Senate to replace Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. 

Some progressive Democrats have pushed the 70-year-old Supreme Court justice to retire recently, over concerns that her age could cause the seat to open up during the next four years, according to Politico. Ruth Bader Ginsberg died during Trump's first administration, and the former president replaced her with Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Durbin rejected the idea of replacing Sotomayor, arguing that there was not enough time for a new justice to be nominated and confirmed by the Senate on top of other legislative priorities. 

“Whoever makes those calls [for a retirement] can't count,” Durbin said. “Take a look at the calendar and tell me how in the world you could achieve that without setting aside the budget and the defense authorization act and all the other things that need to be done? I don't think it's a realistic idea.”

Sotomayor has not indicated that she would be willing to step down before the next administration, with sources telling the Wall Street Journal that she intends to stay on the court.

The comment also comes after Republicans won control of the upper chamber during the 2024 general election. Republicans flipped four Senate seats, including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Montana, and Ohio.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.