Reiterating that he would fulfil his constitutional duty to appoint the next justice to the US Supreme Court, President Barack Obama today said he is looking for a judge with a sterling record who has respect for the judiciary's role.
"A sterling record. A deep respect for the judiciary's role. An understanding of the way the world really works. That's what I'm considering as I fulfil my constitutional duty to appoint a judge to our highest court," Obama wrote in a blog post on nominating a successor to justice Antonin Scalia who died this month.
"As Senators prepare to fulfil their constitutional responsibility to consider the person I appoint, I hope they'll move quickly to debate and then confirm this nominee so that the Court can continue to serve the American people at full strength," he said.
In a rare blog post, Obama said it is one of the most important decisions that a president will make.
"Rulings handed down by the Supreme Court directly affect our economy, our security, our rights, and our daily lives," he said.
"Needless to say, this isn't something I take lightly. It's a decision to which I devote considerable time, deep reflection, careful deliberation, and serious consultation with legal experts, members of both political parties, and people across the political spectrum," he added saying the person to be appointed will be eminently qualified.
"He or she will have an independent mind, rigorous intellect, impeccable credentials, and a record of excellence and integrity. I'm looking for a mastery of the law, with an ability to hone in on the key issues before the Court, and provide clear answers to complex legal questions," he said.
"Second, the person I appoint will be someone who recognises the limits of the judiciary's role; who understands that a judge's job is to interpret the law, not make the law," he wrote.
"I seek judges who approach decisions without any particular ideology or agenda, but rather a commitment to impartial justice, a respect for precedent, and a determination to faithfully apply the law to the facts at hand," said president.
At the same time, Obama said he is also mindful that there will be cases that reach the Supreme Court in which the law is not clear.
There will be cases in which a judge's analysis necessarily will be shaped by his or her own perspective, ethics, and judgement, he noted.
"That's why the third quality I seek in a judge is a keen understanding that justice is not about abstract legal theory, nor some footnote in a dusty casebook," Obama said.
"It's the kind of life experience earned outside the classroom and the courtroom; experience that suggests he or she views the law not only as an intellectual exercise, but also grasps the way it affects the daily reality of people's lives in a big, complicated democracy, and in rapidly changing times. That, I believe, is an essential element for arriving at just decisions and fair outcomes," Obama wrote.
