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How a Supreme Court Justice gets confirmed and what it means for the 2020 election

Following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, many are left wondering how the vacancy will be filled.

Jenson Strock

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Published: 9:47 PM EDT September 25, 2020
Updated: 2:28 PM EDT September 26, 2020

As the country mourns the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, politicians on both sides of the aisle have wasted no time in discussing how her seat should be filled.

With the election a little more than a month away, there has been heated debate over whether or not the Senate should wait to vote on a replacement. 

Democrats have argued that whoever is elected president in Nov. should make the appointment, but Republicans have made clear they plan to vote in President Donald Trump's pick before the end of his term. 

The parties seem to have changed roles from just a short while ago, following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia when Republicans were the ones pumping the brakes and the left tried to push forward with a vote.

However, no matter your affiliation, it is vital to understand the process of appointing a new justice to the Supreme Court and what that means in context.

University of Toledo law professor Lee Strang said that the Supreme Court holds a lot of power and has been a deciding factor in highly debated issues throughout our country's history, including abortion rights and marriage equality.  

So, how does someone get appointed to the United States Supreme Court?

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