Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland was the lone dissenting judge in a federal appeals court case involving a proposed nuclear waste site at Yucca Mountain.
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It’s a pressing question for liberals who are concerned Republicans may delay Garland’s nomination through the election – to please their base – but then move to quickly confirm the judge before a new Democratic president takes office to avoid a more liberal nominee in 2017.
Republicans who vow to deny Garland a hearing and who pledge to support Donald Trump if he is their party’s nominee are saying: Democracy somehow requires that this vacancy on a non-majoritarian institution must be filled only after voters have had their say through the election of the next president…
Nominations to the lifetime Supreme Court post require Senate confirmation. That power resides with the president, along with the advice and consent of the Senate. She had no choice but to embrace the mild-mannered moderate whom Democrats plan to make into a symbol of Republican obstruction. Furthermore, the longer the Scalia seat remains vacant, the greater the likelihood the court will decide cases by a 4-4 vote. The subjects range from abortion and voting rights to environmental and economic issues. He floated the idea of considering the Garland’s nomination in the postelection session because “between him and somebody that a President Clinton might nominate, I think the choice is clear”. The president has nominated someone who is capable of doing the job by virtue of intellect, education and experience.
Neera Tanden, a Clinton ally and president of the Center for American Progress, said progressive groups are united in insisting Republicans confirm Garland.
Friday evening, Grassley campaign spokesman Eric Woolson said, “Chuck Grassley is elected by the people of Iowa and he is standing up for the people of Iowa”. “Your whole job is to either say yes or no and explain why”.
Democrats will accuse Senate Republicans of playing politics if they refuse to confirm Garland. The Biden rule said no confirmations during a political season.
Grassley said he has nothing against Garland and said he’s willing to meet with the nominee.
But McConnell gave no ground to that argument, telling CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of Union” Sunday that opposition to Garland’s nomination from the National Rifle Association and the National Federation of Independent Businesses shows he’s too liberal.
Republicans countered by warning Democrats not to “seek to further divide our nation” by using the Supreme Court fight “to score cheap political points in an election year”. I guess it is lucky for us that there is a Constitution since apparently The Herald supports a king or dictator of the United States. Senators may not value being consistent and fair, but I do. In the other, he sided with a unanimous decision to strike down limits. They have elected members of Congress. They have elected a president.
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Alberto R. Gonzales, former USA attorney general in the George W. Bush administration, is the dean at Belmont University College of Law.
