What McConnell appears to be at least contemplating — refusing hearings no matter the stage of a presidency — is without precedent in recent American history.

Asked whether he’s developing an argument for not holding hearings if it isn’t an election year … McConnell declined to answer.

If a Majority Leader McConnell does this, it would create a new paradigm: No Supreme Court justice can be allowed a confirmation process — let alone be confirmed — when the opposition party controls the Senate.

The result would be a Supreme Court with an even number of justices.

And that would create the possibility of a deadlock on any number of issues, such as affirmative action, voting rights and religious liberty — for years.