Q+A: U.S. Supreme Court nominee faces confirmation process

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will approve or reject President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court. Here are some questions and answers about the confirmation process.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

Unclear. Since 1981 it has taken, on average, 2 1/2 months for a nomination to go to a vote by the full Senate, according to figures compiled by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

ARE MANY NOMINATIONS REJECTED?

According to the Senate historian's office, 28 of 158 nominations have been rejected, withdrawn or simply not acted upon since the court was founded in 1789. Most recently, former President George W. Bush's 2005 nominee, Harriet Miers, withdrew in the face of opposition from fellow conservatives. The Senate has only erected a procedural roadblock known as a filibuster once: in 1968, to stop President Lyndon Johnson from making Justice Abe Fortas, a close confidant, chief justice.

COULD REPUBLICANS BLOCK OBAMA'S NOMINEE?

Barring a surprise scandal, that is highly unlikely. Republicans are certain to grill the nominee about topics such as abortion, torture and civil rights. But with just 40 Republicans in the now 99-member Senate (there is one opening), they would all have to stick together to deny Democrats the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster.

DURING HIS FOUR YEARS IN THE SENATE, HOW DID OBAMA VOTE ON

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH'S TWO NOMINEES?

Obama opposed both Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE INITIAL STEPS IN THE CONFIRMATION

PROCESS?

A questionnaire will be sent to the nominee from the Judiciary Committee. Questions will range from date of birth, net worth and employment record to a listing of all organizations that the nominee belongs to, and a request of copies of the nominee's published writings, testimony and speeches.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE HEARING?

The nominee will be invited to give an opening statement and will then be questioned by the 19-member panel, which includes 12 of Obama's fellow Democrats and seven Republicans. The hearing will likely last at least several days.

WHAT DOES THE COMMITTEE DO AT THE END OF THE HEARING?

Senators will have a week to submit written follow up questions. Once the answers are provided, the committee will vote whether to recommend to the full Senate that the nominee be confirmed or rejected. It could decide to send the nomination to the full Senate without a recommendation.

WHEN WILL THE SENATE VOTE?

Once the Senate receives the nomination, it will likely vote after at least a few days of debate.

WHO WILL BE KEY PLAYERS IN THE SENATE DEBATE?

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy will head the confirmation hearing. Jeff Sessions, a conservative from Alabama, is the panel's senior Republican and will head his party's questioning. Arlen Specter is a former Republican chairman of the committee, but after his switch to the Democratic Party he will be closely watched to see whether, and how enthusiastically, he backs the nominee. Democratic leader Harry Reid and Republican leader Mitch McConnell will play key roles in shaping the approach of their party members.

IF CONFIRMED, WHEN WILL THE NOMINEE BECOME A JUSTICE?

The confirmed nominee will likely head directly to the White House to be sworn in. Chief Justice John Roberts will likely administer the oath of office. But if Roberts is unavailable, another justice would handle it.

(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Vicki Allen)