Poll Majority Americans Want Obama Fill Supreme Court Vacancy

A new poll out this week found that most Americans think President Obama should move ahead with naming a Supreme Court justice if a vacancy opens before he leaves office. The survey, conducted by a major national polling firm, showed 52 percent of respondents favoring an appointment by the sitting president rather than leaving the decision to whoever wins in November.

The numbers cut across party lines in some unexpected ways. While Democrats backed the idea by wide margins, a smaller but notable share of independents also said they preferred Obama handle any opening that arises this year. Republicans largely opposed the notion, with many respondents citing concerns over the balance of the court heading into the next administration.

Senate leaders have already signaled they would resist any nomination from Obama in his final year. That stance has drawn criticism from those who argue the president has both the constitutional duty and the time left in his term to act. The poll suggests that public opinion may not line up neatly with the hardline position coming from Capitol Hill.

Voters also weighed in on the qualities they want in the next justice. Experience on the federal bench ranked high, but so did a record of rulings that reflect a broad range of legal views rather than a strict ideological filter. The results hint at fatigue with the increasingly partisan fights over judicial picks in recent years.

The findings come as both parties gear up for what could be a contentious confirmation battle whenever the next opening occurs. For now, the data shows that a majority of Americans see no reason to wait until after the election.