Grassley Wants Lee or Cruz for Supreme Court if Vacancy Arises

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said the panel would be “fully prepared” to vet a Supreme Court nominee should there be a retirement at the end of the term, and would recommend that either Ted Cruz (R-Texas) or Mike Lee (R-Utah) get the nomination.

Asked on Capitol Hill on Tuesday whether he had sense about Justice Samuel Alito potentially leaving the court, Grassley told reporters that he did not, and had not discussed such a scenario with the White House.

“I hope he doesn’t retire,” Grassley said. “But if he does retire, I’m going to suggest that either Lee or Cruz be put on the Supreme Court.”

Alito, 76, was appointed by George W. Bush and has served for 20 years. Speculation has circulated about whether the conservative jurist might retire at the end of the term, though he has made no public statement indicating plans to step down.

Both Lee and Cruz also sit on the Judiciary Committee and have been among many names for Supreme Court vacancies that have circulated over President Donald Trump’s two administrations. He appointed three justices between 2017-2020.

The veteran lawmakers have high court pedigrees. Cruz clerked for then-Chief Justice William Rehnquist and argued before the court as solicitor general of Texas and in private practice.

Lee clerked for Alito on the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and then on the Supreme Court. He specialized in appellate and Supreme Court litigation while in private practice with Sidley Austin.