Photo

Going through a Supreme Court confirmation battle in the middle of a presidential election has happened just five times in the past 100 years. The last one occurred in 1988.

That year, a Democratic Senate confirmed President Ronald Reagan’s appointment of Anthony M. Kennedy in a 97-0 vote. He was nominated on Nov. 30, 1987.

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s attempt to elevate Justice Abe Fortas to chief justice was contentious and spawned the “Thurmond Rule.” The move was withdrawn, as was a separate nomination of Homer Thornberry to the court.

In January 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Frank Murphy. He was confirmed less than two weeks later.

In February 1932, it took just nine days for Benjamin Cardozo, nominated by Herbert Hoover, to be confirmed.

In 1916, Woodrow Wilson nominated two justices: Louis Brandeis, on Jan. 28; and John Clarke, on July 14. While it took just 10 days for Mr. Clarke to be confirmed, Mr. Brandeis was not confirmed for over four months.