• Politics

Watch Clinton Describe Her Ideal Supreme Court Justice

2 minute read

Hillary Clinton didn’t name any judges she thinks should be on the Supreme Court, but she did name three cases that would guide her pick.

When asked at Wednesday’s debate about the current vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, the former Secretary of State said she wants his replacement to uphold Roe v. Wade, overturn Citizens United and avoid decisions like Bush v. Gore.

Roe v. Wade was the 1973 decision that recognized a right to abortion. Citizens United v. FEC was the 2010 decision that undid campaign finance restrictions. And Bush v. Gore was the 2000 decision that ended recounts in the presidential election.

“I fully support President Obama’s intention under the Constitution to nominate a successor to Justice Scalia,” she told the crowd in Miami. “And I believe no state probably understands this better than Florida, because lets remember three words: Bush vs. Gore. A court took away a presidency. Now we’ve got the Republican Congress trying to take away the Constitution and we should not tolerate that.”

 

 

Senate Republicans have said they will not hold hearings or vote on anyone Obama nominates, preferring to let the next president fill the vacancy.

Clinton then spoke more specifically about what qualifications she would look for in a justice.

“Obviously you look for people who are not only qualified on paper, but have a heart, have life experience, understand what these decisions mean in the lives of Americans,” she said. “Clearly I would look for people who believe that Roe v. Wade is settled law, and that Citizens United needs to be overturned as quickly as possible.”

Sanders was not asked about the vacancy.

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Write to Tessa Berenson Rogers at tessa.Rogers@time.com