washington u.s. attorney general loretta lynch ask consider nominee fill supreme court vacancy create death justice antonin scalia last month justice department say tuesday lynch 56 rumor consideration democratic president barack obama hold high regard within administration receive bipartisan support nomination attorney general would first black woman serve supreme court give urgent issue department justice ask consider position department say statement recent weeks name emerge obama short list include sri srinivasan jane kelly paul watford serve federal appeal court judge interview fox news last week lynch respond speculation vet job conversations happy job lynch say justice department spokeswoman melanie newman say lynch deeply grateful support suggest high court nominee honor serve attorney general fully commit carry work department justice remainder term process fill spot hold scalia one court conservative justices ignite partisan battle washington republicans control u.s. senate want see court shift ideologically leave say hold vote obama nominee senate majority leader mitch mcconnell say next supreme court justice choose winner nov. presidential election attorney general lynch ask consider supreme court vacancy