By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois’ Senior Senator is pushing the nation’s President to act swiftly to find a replacement for Justice Stephen Breyer from the Supreme Court.

Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the longer President Biden takes to find a replacement, the longer it takes for Senate approval.

“I’m going to urge him (President Biden) to come up with a nominee in a timely manner – that is political speak for hurry up. Let’s get this done. I’m anxious. We really can’t shift into get and do the background check that’s necessary and have an opportunity for the nominee to get around and meet members until the President makes his selection.”

Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is one of three remaining liberal justices, opening the gates for President Biden to select a liberal replacement to maintain the current 6-3 split between conservative and liberal justices.

“It’s an important selection, a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land,” Senator Durbin said. “But I hope he (President Biden) will do it in a timely way; the longer he waits, the longer it will take before we finally considered the nomination on the Senate floor.”

On the campaign trail, President Biden promised to nominate a Black woman to the court if he had the opportunity to select a Supreme Court Justice.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].