drake constitutional law professor -- mark kende -- says an eight member court will lead to court to resolve issues. kende says it would be wise for president obama to nominate a justice who has both democratic and republican support... but feels the opposing party will still shut down the idea we are a year away from a new president. if were three months i would maybe say something different but if were a year away there is plenty of time and normally that would be plenty of time to go through a process but the polarization is so bad that might not happen - mark kende the only recent case comparable to scalia's vacancy was in 19-68 under president lyndon johnson. however, johnson nominated someone the year before. the senate didn't turn down that choice until the election year of 1968 gifts like flowers and chocolates are popular on this valentines day... but one des moines man took his 001819 i was just asking him what he was planning for valentines day and he was like, we are gonna go see a movie then go to the ice rink. i was like oh okay this is gonna be fun but im gonna totally

drake constitutional law professor -- mark kende -- says a new justice should be nominated sooner rather than later. he says because of all the major cases pending in the supreme court -- like affirmative action, abortion and labor issues -- a delay could disrupt the whole process. the ties that are likely with just eight justices will force the lower court to resolve issues. kende says typically, finding a quick replacement is relatively doable .. but this time he isn't so 441723 we are a year away from a new president. if were three months i

mark kende: this is the most serious thing i have seen in a long time. elizabeth: senator grassley says his judiciary committee will deny president obama's nominee a hearing. grassley released a letter, majority leader mitch mcconnell speaking to reporters about it. drake legal experts say the decision will have a huge impact. because the supreme court will only have eight justices for a year or more. our now poll is asking if you agree with grassley's refusal to hold a hearing? so far people have weighed in and say 33% say yes and 65% say no. 2% say they are not sure. let us know what you think it kcci, facebook, and twitter. eric: right now. a man is recovering the hospital after being shot in a des moines elementary school parking lot. it happened last night, at park avenue elementary on southwest 7th. the victim was a man in his teens or early 20's. he was shot in the leg. find shell casings in the school lot. also right now. officials say that all 23 people on board a small plane that crashed in nepal are confirmed dead. rescuers found the wreckage

drake constitutional law professor -- mark kende -- says a new justice should be nominated major cases pending in the supreme court -- like affirmative action, delay could disrupt are likely with just eight justices will force the lower court to resolve issues. kende says typically, finding a quick replacement is relatively doable optimistic. we are a year away from a new i would maybe say something different but if were a year away there is plenty of time and normally that would be plenty of time to go through a process but the polarization is so bad that's not clear it's going to happen the only recent case comparable to scalia's vacancy was in 19-68 under president lyndon johnson. however, johnson nominated someone the year before. the senate didn't turn down that choice until the election year of 1968 morning after a major snarl on interstate 80 yesterday... it happened in cedar county near west branch. three people were injured during the massive pile up... state patrol says it involved more than 30 cars and left traffic backed up for hours. it all started with a 5 car collision a

we'll be joined by drake university constitutional law professor mark kende as well as leading local republicans and democrats. that's this sunday morning at 10:30 right after "face the nation." let's check back in with jason to find it when the weather is going to start warming up and how warm it will get. metinka: we are talking tomorrow. spring coming early, at least a few days pulling out of it. teens across the state. a much warmer day tomorrow. a few isolated snow showers earlier on in those continue to weaken and shift eastward. you can see the cloud light off to the west. if you're hoping for more sunshine, today will not be the day for you. 34 degrees. we have the wind chill at 27 degrees. if you look at the rest of the day, it is not bad. lows dropping to freezing. 32 by 10:00 p.m. we hold tight throughout the morning hours. clouds do linger. wind chills down into the mid-20's. not exactly a freezing night ahead for us. we don't have to worry about those for a whole lot longer. you can see a front sliding in. these black lines, lines of constant pressure. those winds increa

drake constitutional law professor -- mark kende -- says a new justice should be nominated sooner rather than later. he says because of all the major cases pending in the supreme court -- like affirmative action, abortion and labor issues -- a delay could disrupt the whole process. the ties that are likely with just eight justices will force the lower court to resolve issues. kende says typically, finding a quick replacement is relatively doable .. but this time he isn't so 441723 we are a year away from a new president. if were three months i would maybe say something different but if were a year away there is plenty of time and normally that wuld be plenty of time to go through a process but the polarization is so bad that's not clear it's going to happen the only recent case comparable to scalia's vacancy was in 19-68 under president lyndon johnson. however, johnson nominated someone the year before. the senate didn't turn down that choice until the election year of 1968 traffic is back open this morning after a major snarl on interstate 80 yesterday... it happened in cedar county nea

mark kende joins us. he is currently a constitutional law professor at drake first of all, i'd like to thank you for being here. let me start by asking what criteria does a president usually consider when deciding on an supreme court appointment and are there any general qualities that all justices share? mark: i think the most important thing is someone of incredible judicial intellect, combined with great integrity, great experience, perhaps a judge. perhaps some one who has been involved in public life. these are the typical criteria that have been in use by presidents over the years. we will see what president obama steve: what about gender, any other issues? mark: absolutely. i think that gender plays a role right now. right now the disease a discussion -- right now there is a discussion about how many harvard and yell graduates are on the court. to some extent it's a legal decision, but there are certainly political dimensions to it. steve: is that just to make sure that all views are considered? ma

drake constitutional law professor mark kende says, scalia's legacy is undeniable. >> he helped the court become historians think this is the most conservative supreme court we've ever had. it's a consistency, -- rose it's a consistency, : conservatives may miss this term. his passing comes at time with hot topics like affirmative action abortion and religious freedom on the docket. >> those cases would be close. 5-4 decisions, so it becomes complicated now in terms of the conservatives have lost one of their loudest voices. rose the vacant position is now : a point of contention between the two parties. >> i think it means a battle. i know republican senators i believe even ted cruz who's obviously running for president, that it should be the next president who appoints. rose as the conversation moves : forward, kende says it's important to remember scalia's lasting impact. >> just recognize again whether you agree with him or disagree with him, what a significant, historical figure he is. the most supreme -- senior member of the supreme court. laura: president obama also reacting tonigh

we'll be joined by drake university constitutional law professor mark kende, as well as leading local republicans and democrats. be sure to tune in this sunday morning at 10:30 right after face the nation. a new report has revealed that calls to the department of veterans affairs suicide hotline went to voicemail with callers not receiving immediate assistance. veteran and senator john mccain says it's particularly disturbing because calls to the hotline have increased dramatically in recent years, with the wars in iraq and afghanistan. released shows the military is struggling to provide adequate care for thousands of active duty troops suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and depression. the rand corp study reviewed 40,000 cases and says many of the troops are not getting the minimum number of therapy sessions after being diagnosed. officials blame it on a lack of mental health professionals and say the military will use civilian therapists as well. still ahead new developments in , the encryption battle between the fbi and apple ceo tim cook. and a new york man loses his w

laura: drake constitutional law professor mark kende says today's decision by the senate republicans shows the break down of democracy. >> this is the most serious thing i have seen in a long time. senator grassley and the other laura:senator grassley and the other -- laura: senator grassley and the other republicans on the judiciary committee released a letter tuesday saying they won't hold hearings on any supreme court nominee until after our next president is sworn in on january 20, 2017, in the interest of the american people. >> to say that this is respecting the will of the american people is simple nonsense. this is deeply down highly charged partisan interests. laura: grassley says vice president joe biden's statements back in 1992 as the chairman of the judiciary committee show why the senate should not take up a nominee. >> action on a supreme court nomination must be put off until after the election campaign is >> in his heart of hearts he understands why the senate must do what he said it must do in 1992. laura: political experts say both republicans and democrats have us

we'll have more from kcci 8 news political analyst dennis university constitutional law professor mark kende and leading local republicans and democrats as well. be sure to tune in this sunday morning at 10:30 right after "face the nation." time now, 8:17. we will check back in with that forecast. frank: the sunset sent in by megan wagner last week down by indianola, just a neat shot. you can see the sun reflecting off the lake and some cirrus clouds. another nice shot from our downtown skycam, we are seeing the blue sky, 40 degrees. the wind is light out of the west at about three. the big thing you will notice today over yesterday is the cooler out to the west, carroll in the 30's. the wind is manageable now, less than five miles an hour in des moines. generally it will be out of the west and northwest today. we do have clear skies and a system to the north that we are keeping an eye on will start to change our conditions. starting out 9:00 this morning, we are going to see the sunshine. the sun has his sunglasses on and will be all around the state. more clouds as we head through the afte

news political analyst dennis goldford along with drake university constitutional law professor mark kende and leading local republicans and democrats as well. that is coming up sunday morning at 10:30 right after face the nation. we will check back in with that springlike forecast. frank: it is going to be another great day today. let's reminisce. this is a picture from late and around the of a sunset out on the -- lake panorama of a sunset out on the lake. thank you for sending that in. our downtown skycam this morning, things looking pretty nice. the wind is much lighter than this time yesterday, starting things out in the middle 40's. west. southeast when they do not have temperatures a little warmer. the wind speeds have really to 15 miles per hour around the state. we do have clear skies. that is going to mean a nice sunny day with temperatures a lot like yesterday. another system just off to the north that is going to be sliding through tomorrow, calling us down for the end of the weekend. relatively dry air of the midwest, this cold front will be sliding through sunday and just a b

mark kende joins us. he is currently a constitutional law professor at drake first of all, i'd like to thank you for being here. let me start by asking what criteria does a president usually consider when deciding on an supreme court appointment and are there any general qualities that all justices share? mark: i think the most important thing is someone of incredible judicial intellect, combined with great integrity, great experience, perhaps a judge. perhaps some one who has been involved in public life. these are the typical criteria that have been in use by presidents over the years. we will see what president obama