Loretta Lynch removes herself from Supreme Court consideration

Attorney General Loretta Lynch has told the White House she does not want to be nominated to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.

In a statement issued Tuesday, a Justice Department spokeswoman said although the Attorney General was grateful for support of those who have suggested her as a possible nominee, she thought that a nomination would “curtail her effectiveness in her current role.”

“Given the urgent issues before the Department of Justice, she asked not to be considered for the position,” DOJ spokeswoman Melanie Newman said.

Ms. Lynch is instead fully committed to serving the remainder of her term as Attorney General, Ms. Newman said.

Justice Antonin Scalia died last month, leaving a vacancy on the nine-member court. The Obama administration is searching for a replacement for the conservative justice, though its nominating someone is almost certain to be symbolic anyway.

Republicans in the Senate have repeatedly said they will not even hold hearings on anyone President Obama might nominate to replace Justice Scalia. Even if they were to relent on that, there is almost no chance an Obama pick could get the necessary 60 votes to break a filibuster.

Ms. Lynch had been considered a possible nominee because she already had won Senate confirmation as attorney general, would would make a Republican rejection of her easier to paint as spite against Mr. Obama. As a black woman, her rejection could also be attributed by Democrats to racism and sexism.