Replacing Judge Scalia – why the battle to control the US Supreme Court is central for the 2016 elections and beyond

Replacing Judge Scalia – why the battle to control the US Supreme Court is central for the 2016 elections and beyond

Conservative heavyweight of the Supreme Court for 30 years, Antonin Scalia, passed away on February the 13. With the court neatly divided ideologically, the stakes for filling his vacancy are painstakingly high; the outcome possibly altering the political trajectory of American judicial review for decades to come. Republican senate majority leader Mitch McConnell expresses a firm commitment to block all attempts at nominating a successor to Scalia within Obamas last year in office. Although gridlock is nothing new to Washington politics, the standoff comes at a most pressing point in time – as both parties are in the midst of a highly divisive primary season.

Join Gunnar Grendstad (Professor, Department of Comparative Politics, UiB) and Eirik Holmøyvik (Professor, Faculty of Law, UiB) for a conversation about the “perfect storm” raging in the wake of Scalia´s death.

Date and time: April 7th, 8:30-10:00