Courtney Calls on Senate to Fulfill Constitutional Responsibility By Considering Supreme Court Nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) made the following statement after President Barack Obama nominated Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the United States Supreme Court:

“It is very clear that both the President and the Senate have a constitutional responsibility to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court regardless of election year politics, and today the President has fulfilled his obligation,” said Courtney. “Since 1912, the Senate has confirmed six Supreme Court nominations during presidential election years, the most recent being that of sitting Justice Anthony Kennedy who was nominated by a Republican president.

“President Obama has gone out of his way to find a prudent, consensus nominee in Chief Judge Merrick Garland. There is no doubt that Judge Garland has served our country with distinction and honor, and has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history. When he was originally nominated to the federal bench in 1997, he was easily confirmed by a strong bipartisan majority in the Senate. Even the current Chief Justice, John Roberts, has praised him by saying that ‘anytime Judge Garland disagrees, you know you’re in a difficult area’.

“I continue to hope that the Senate will be able to put election year gamesmanship aside, and do the right thing by not unfairly holding up Judge Garland’s confirmation.”

###