1) There is a supposition, suggesting that the House of Representatives could try to impeach President Trump again or impeach Attorney General Bill Barr to inhibit the Senate from moving expeditiously to confirm a Supreme Court Justice.
2) It’s hard to see how any such scenario could impede the Senate.
Let’s hypothetically that the House does impeach the President or Barr and appoints House managers to handle a Senate impeachment trial.
3) Senate Impeachment Rule I requires the Senate to approve a resolution to receive and exhibit the articles of impeachment. Impeachment Rule II establishes the formal beginning to the trial.
4) Short of the Senate approving an additional resoluton to establish impeachment trial parameters, the regular impeachment rules kick in. If dealing with the President, Chief Justice John Roberts presides and swears-in senators as jurors.
5) If the Senate fails to adopt any special framework for a trial, Impeachment Rule III kicks in. That requires the Senate to hold the trial six days a week, starting at 1 pm et “until final judgment shall be rendered.”
6) Even if the Senate is in the middle of fulfilling its obligations of a trial, that doesn’t hijack the Senate from tackling other business - such as a Supreme Court nomination. The Senate could deal with such a nomination either before or after the trial period on any day.
7) So it’s hard to see how any impeachment trial could have any practical effect and delay the confirmation process for a Supreme Court nominee.
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