"I thank Justice Souter for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors once he leaves the Supreme Court.

"I trust the President will choose a nominee for the upcoming vacancy based on their experience and even-handed reading of the law, and not their partisan leanings or ability to pass litmus tests. A Supreme Court nominee needs to be able to fulfill the judicial oath of applying the law without prejudice, and not decide cases based on their feelings or personal politics.

"Once there is a nominee, I will work to ensure that their record is thoroughly reviewed and that there is a full and fair debate."