Obama Nominates Merrick Garland To Supreme Court

Obama Nominates Judge Merrick Garland To The Supreme Court. The New York Times reported that President Obama announced on March 16 he is nominating Judge Merrick Garland, the chief justice of the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit, to the Supreme Court. Obama said Garland is “widely recognized not only as one of America's sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence. These qualities and his long commitment to public service have earned him the respect and admiration from leaders from both sides of the aisle.” Obama also asked for Garland to be given “a fair hearing, and then an up or down vote”:

President Obama on Wednesday said he would nominate Merrick B. Garland as the nation's 113th Supreme Court justice, choosing a centrist appeals court judge for the lifetime appointment and daring Republican senators to refuse consideration of a jurist who is highly regarded throughout Washington.

Mr. Obama introduced Judge Garland to an audience of his family members, activists, and White House staff in the Rose Garden Wednesday morning, describing him as exceptionally qualified to serve on the Supreme Court in the seat vacated by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February.

The president said Judge Garland is “widely recognized not only as one of America's sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence. These qualities and his long commitment to public service have earned him the respect and admiration from leaders from both sides of the aisle.”

Mr. Obama demanded a fair hearing for Judge Garland and said that refusing to even consider his nomination would provoke “an endless cycle of more tit for tat” that would undermine the democratic process for years to come.

“I simply ask Republicans in the Senate to give him a fair hearing, and then an up or down vote,” Mr. Obama said. “If you don't, then it will not only be an abdication of the Senate's constitutional duty, it will indicate a process for nominating and confirming judges that is beyond repair.” [The New York Times, 3/16/16]

Right-Wing Media Demand That The Senate Block Nomination, Criticize Obama For Asking For A Vote

Washington Examiner's Tim Carney: “I Support The Biden Standard -- No Nominees In An Election Year.”

I support the Biden standard -- no nominees in an election year.

-- Tim Carney (@TPCarney) March 16, 2016

[Twitter.com, 3/16/16]

National Review's Charles C.W. Cooke: “Senate Can Do What It Pleases” With Garland Nomination, “And Will.” 

A reminder that Obama can do what he pleases, and is, and that the Senate can do what it pleases, and will.

-- Charles C. W. Cooke (@charlescwcooke) March 16, 2016

[Twitter.com, 3/16/16]

National Review's Carrie Severino: President Who Filibustered Supreme Court Nominee “Now Says We Should 'Play It Straight.'”

The first president to to vote filibuster a Supreme Court nominee now says we should “play it straight”. https://t.co/5jdZJhwqpo

-- Carrie Severino (@JCNSeverino) March 16, 2016

[Twitter.com, 3/16/16]

HotAir's Ed Morrissey: Man Asking Senate Not To Block SCOTUS Nominee “Voted To Filibuster A Supreme Court Nomination 11 Years Ago.” 

Says the man who voted to filibuster a Supreme Court nomination 11 years ago. https://t.co/6BbMq3eKK9

-- Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) March 16, 2016

[Twitter.com, 3/16/16]

RedState's Ben Howe: “Block Merrick Garland. I Don't Have To Figure Out Why.” 

Block Merrick Garland. I don't have to figure out why.

-- Ben Howe (@BenHowe) March 16, 2016

[Twitter.com, 3/16/16]

Daily Wire's Ben Shapiro: “How About We Just Tell [Obama] To Stick It?” 

How about we just tell you to stick it? https://t.co/Wsy0kr3Zm5

-- Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 16, 2016

[Twitter.com, 3/16/16]

Media Research Center's Dan Gainor: “Saying No” To Garland Nomination “Is Actually Governing.” 

Saying no is actually governing. https://t.co/lujQMQWUIM

-- Dan Gainor (@dangainor) March 16, 2016

[Twitter.com, 3/16/16]