Last month Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval took himself out of the running for the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Antonin Scalia. Now another big name has bowed out: Attorney General Loretta Lynch, NBC News reports. "As the conversation around the Supreme Court vacancy progressed, the Attorney General determined that the limitations inherent in the nomination process would curtail her effectiveness in her current role," the Justice Department said in a statement Tuesday. "Given the urgent issues before the Department of Justice, she asked not to be considered for the position." The announcement from Lynch, who endured a contentious confirmation for her current role, comes as Republicans continue to vow to block any candidate selected by President Obama.
On Monday, Texas Sen. John Cornyn said any Obama nominee would "bear some resemblance to a pinata" after the nomination process, per CNN. Fortune, meanwhile, notes that Lynch is well-regarded within the administration and would make headlines for being the first black woman on the Supreme Court, but NBC points out that "administration insiders" felt her name was thought to be a "non-starter" due to looming investigations. "While she is deeply grateful for the support and good wishes of all those who suggested her as a potential nominee, she is honored to serve as Attorney General, and she is fully committed to carrying out the work of the Department of Justice for the remainder of her term," the DoJ statement said. (More US Supreme Court stories.)
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