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Wednesday, Sep. 23, 2020

Has it historically taken a median of 12 days to confirm a Supreme Court nominee in an election year?

Jacqui Kenyon, Gigafact Foundry
yes

The median time the Senate has taken to consider and confirm Presidential nominations to the Supreme Court during election years is 12 days. Since the Court's founding in 1789 the Senate has confirmed 11 justices during election years, in each case before the date of the election. All but one (Anthony Kennedy, nominated in 1987 and confirmed in 1988) were also nominated during the same year.

The shortest time: one day, when George Washington nominated Samuel Chase and Oliver Ellsworth in 1796. The longest: 124 days, when Woodrow Wilson nominated Louis Brandeis in 1916, provoking a long fight over what were seen as radical anti-business views.

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