Republicans are gearing up for a possible lengthy battle over President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee.

The party is naming conservative Sen. Jeff Sessions as their point man on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Sessions is replacing Sen. Arlen Specter as the top ranking Republican on the committee.

Republicans fear Obama's nominee will be too liberal and more of an activist judge.

Cathy Russ of the Family Research Council told CBN News that the appointment should not be taken lightly.

"A new justice could try to force tax payers to-- as a matter of constitutional mandate-- to pay for abortions," she said.  "There is even room to go in the wrong direction on abortion, which is already in such bad shape in the court."

Russ went on to say that there is "room for destruction," depending on who President Obama nominates.
 
"This is an extremely important appointment.  [It's] not one to be taken lightly, and not one to be thought of as 'well, a liberal justice [is] leaving. There will be a liberal justice coming in. It's a wash.' That's not true."

The president says he wants the nominee to be approved and in place by the start of the new Supreme Court session in October.