Senators Say Republican Consensus Is No Vote On Obama Court Nominee

Washington: Key US senators said on Tuesday that Republican lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee believe the panel should have no hearings or vote on any nominee by President Barack Obama to fill the seat vacated by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

"That's the consensus view ... No hearing, no vote," Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters as he left a meeting of Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans in the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Republicans dominate the Senate panel.

Senator John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republican, was discussing the "right path forward" to take on the Obama nomination. Asked whether the right path was to not have Judiciary Committee hearings, Cornyn responded, "Correct."