evidence: Will Amy Coney Barrett’s seat be tainted as illegitimate given all the on-the-record pronouncements from Senate Republicans about filling a Supreme Court vacancy so close to a presidential election? [...] The Constitution doesn’t require the Senate to hold hearings on the Barrett nomination at this time or ever. The Senate certainly could decide not to move ahead, but I doubt comity would be promoted. No outcome in the November election will smooth out the confirmation process. If Trump is reelected and the Senate stays in Republican control, Democrats will still oppose the Barrett nomination. If Biden wins the White House and the Senate remains Republican, the Senate would immediately move to confirm Barrett before Biden takes office and it likely also will resist any future nomination by Biden. If Trump is reelected but Democrats take the Senate, outgoing Republicans will want to confirm Barrett before they leave office and Democrats will work to block any future Trump nominees.