Certaintly a lively discussion.
In my opinion, the best course of action is to wait until after the elections before appointing a new Supreme Court justice for the following reasons:
1. Mitch O’Connell said in 2016 there should be no appointments so close to an election. Honesty and integrity are fundamental aspects of our justice system. Nominating a justice through a lie, taints that justice and the court, much less O’Connell, Trump, and Senators voting for that justice’s nomination. Many senators are attorneys. A group of attorneys abiding by such behavour taints the legal profession and by extension, the Universities they came from.
All for what? So a Supreme Court justice can be nominated a few months earlier?
2. Ruth’s dying wish. While some may feel the act of dying should not entitle someone with a premptory challenge to our political process, the fact is, both sides respected her. How can you say you respect someone and then in the same breath say you are not going to honor their last wish? Especially when it does not prevent the Supreme court from functioning?
3. Trump may not win reelection. Appointing a new Supreme Court justice seems like it is stepping on the toes of the incoming administration. Seems like an act of bad will to me.
4. There may not be enough time to thoroughly vet a potential appointee due to other obligations of Senators during election season.
5. Appointing a new Supreme Court justice escalates partisanship to the point of insubordination of voters by both sides. We need the leaders of the respective parties to have a truce from excessive partisanship, respect the Constitution and its intent, follow long established traditions based on sound principles, and focus on finding ways to better represent the people.
A person of character has died. We need someone to step up and show character, even if it hurts, and put excessive partisanship aside.