By Rebecca Morin
When it comes to filling the open Supreme Court justice seat, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has yet to say whether he will hold a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing for a nominee submitted by President Obama.
On Tuesday, he said he would like to wait until a presidential nominee is picked before making any decision on who should fill the justice seat.
“In other words, take it a step at a time,” the 82-year-old said, according to Radio Iowa. “This is a very serious position to fill, and it should be filled and debated during the campaign and filled by either Hillary Clinton, Sen. Sanders or whoever’s nominated by the Republicans.”
Justice Antonin Scalia, who had served on the Supreme Court since 1986, died on Feb. 13.
Obama also made a statement Tuesday during a news conference in California shortly after Grassley’s announcement.
“There’s no unwritten law that says that [Supreme Court nominations] can only be done on off years,” the president said.
Obama has not said when he is going to nominate a justice, but said he will do it in due time.