After Justice Antonin Scalia died in February, we all wondered whom President Obama would appoint as the new Supreme Court justice. This Wednesday, President Obama revealed that he has chosen Merrick B. Garland, who, at 63 is older than some of the justices (who are mostly in their 50s, with some exceptions). Garland now has the potential to make a lot of changes if he’s chosen as a decisionmaker on the country’s highest court.
According to The New York Times, up until the death of Justice Scalia, the Supreme Court has been split down the middle in terms of making decisions on important topics like abortion, immigration, and the death penalty. A new person’s opinion on these matters can help our nation move from talking about change to actually accomplishing it.
President Obama has sung the praises of Judge Garland, stating that he has, “one of America’s sharpest legal minds,” but also, “someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness, and excellence.” according to the Times.
Proud to nominate Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. I ask Senators to meet their constitutional duty and give him a fair hearing.
— President Obama (@POTUS) March 16, 2016
However, President Obama knows that a new member of the Supreme Court will, inevitably, not make everyone living in America happy. He asked for everyone, especially Republican senators, to keep an open mind and remember to be fair. However, the Republican Senate has promised they will not consider any Obama nominee for the Supreme Court, saying the next president should be the one to fill the vacancy. Sen. Mitch McConnell has already called Garland and said the Senate will not consider him.
After President Obama made his speech, Judge Garland spoke about how honored he is to continue his legal career at such a high level.