A CNN guest shockingly pitched the idea that Joe Biden should nominate Kamala Harris to the Supreme Court before Donald Trump is sworn in.
Bakari Sellers appeared on CNN with host John Berman to discuss calls from some liberals that Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, 70, should resign and allow Biden to choose her replacement.
The idea is that Sotomayor may not survive the next four years of Trump’s presidency, which could allow him to choose a fourth justice to the Supreme Court.
‘I actually think that’s a very good plan. I think it’s something that needs to be done,” Sellers said when Berman asked him to weigh in on the proposal.
He said the likelihood that Sotomayor would be forced to step aside was “extremely high.”
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor attends a panel discussion on February 23, 2024 in Washington.
Sotomayor has not publicly responded to calls for her resignation.
Sellers enthusiastically supported the idea, almost relishing the potential outrage over the idea from conservatives.
‘I don’t care if I draw outside the lines, or what the Republicans think about it. This is within your authority. You can actually do it and you should do it,” he said, referring to Biden and the Democratic party.
Sellers went further, suggesting that Biden should select Harris as his replacement.
“You’ve got a great vice president there who has the legal background to serve on a Supreme Court,” he said. “And let the Republicans go crazy, monkey, I even mention that option.”
Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice President by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as her husband Doug Emhoff holds the Bible
Vice President Kamala Harris gestures as she delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election
Harris served as attorney general of California and district attorney in San Francisco before winning her Senate seat.
Normally, presidents choose respected judicial minds to the Supreme Court, not politicians. Electing a sitting vice president to the Supreme Court would be a historically unprecedented event.
Berman was surprised at the idea and wondered if it was even possible.
Bakari Sellers on Friday presented the long-awaited idea that Biden would nominate Kamala Harris to the Supreme Court
‘I don’t just let it float, but I want to stir everything up. I want people’s heads to explode this morning,” Sellers said.
Sellers, a former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives and CNN commentator, has long supported Harris’ political career, but there doesn’t appear to be much support for the idea.
The idea of appointing Harris to the Supreme Court has been discussed before.
Some Democrats suggested in 2022 that Biden would pick Harris to fill the vacant spot left by retiring 83-year-old Judge Stephen Breyer, which would have the added benefit of removing her from the presidential ticket.
The idea was never taken seriously and Biden ultimately nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to fill the vacancy.