Senator Dianne Feinstein's career was filled with firsts, including first woman mayor of San Francisco and one of two of the first women elected to the U.S. Senate from California.
The process is the justice announces retirement (or dies) and then the president appoints a nominee. Perhaps Obama didn’t ask RBG to retire prior to 2014, or she refused. The president can’t force a change, but just react to one.
The Republican minority prior to 2014 blocked one of Obama’s recess appointments, so after 2014, even had RBG announced retirement, it was probably unlikely that a recess appointment would work. I assume at the time, they figured Clinton would be president in 2016 and that RGB could then retire during Clinton’s presidency.
The process is the justice announces retirement (or dies) and then the president appoints a nominee. Perhaps Obama didn’t ask RBG to retire prior to 2014, or she refused. The president can’t force a change, but just react to one.
The Republican minority prior to 2014 blocked one of Obama’s recess appointments, so after 2014, even had RBG announced retirement, it was probably unlikely that a recess appointment would work. I assume at the time, they figured Clinton would be president in 2016 and that RGB could then retire during Clinton’s presidency.
Apparently he didn’t outright ASK but he did tactfully raise the issue.
She was stubborn though and just wouldn’t do it.