Question about SC appointments

[Orrex]

This post brought a question to mind that I hope my well-informed DU peers will be able to answer.

If a SC Justice retires or dies late in a sitting President's 2nd term, presumably the Pres gets to nominate a person to fill the slot. But does it matter if the confirmation process takes longer than the remainder of the Pres' term? Is there any way that the successor President can claim the privilege of nominating someone to fill the slot that's still vacant during his term, or does the nominating Pres get priority, since the post became vacant during his term?

[mcscajun]

1. That's an interesting and rather knotty question. I hope someone

here has the answer for you. :)

Not that I think this is going to happen with Bush's term.