On Wednesday March 16, President Obama announced his nominee to fill the late Associate Justice Antonin Scalia’s vacant seat on the Supreme Court. To his left, listening to the president list his achievements and tell his life story, was Merrick Garland of the Washington, D.C. Circuit Court. “The second highest court in the land” as Obama told the press. The President went on to say that he consulted multiple people from multiple viewpoints over the past few weeks, and even through his earlier Court nominations—Sotomayor and Kagan—he claimed Garland’s name was the only to come up every time from multiple people throughout the process as most qualified for the position. But does Garland actually deserve the position of a U.S Supreme Court Justice?
The man won over the hearts of the American public when after his introduction, he finally got up the podium, adjusted the tall microphones that still covered part of his face, and cried. He claimed that this was the greatest day of his life, besides his wedding day, and that this opportunity was the greatest gift he has ever received, besides his two daughters. As he spoke, his voice cracked and he wiped tears from his eyes. President Obama and Vice President Biden patted him on the back to comfort him. The 63-year-old Harvard undergrad and Law School graduate is the oldest nominee in U.S history since Powell’s nomination during Nixon’s administration.
The man has the most judicial experience out of any Supreme Court nominee in history, although the Senate Judiciary Committee claims that they will refuse to hold an official hearing for him to vote him into or deny him the seat on the Court. Republicans, such as Mitch McConnell and Ted Cruz, are part of this group. Meanwhile, Obama and others have called out the Judiciary Committee on ‘fulfilling Constitutional duties.’
Obama, in his speech to announce his nominee, claimed he had done his duty by searching for the right person. He even consulted multiple people from multiple sides. Now, the Senate must fulfill their duty as laid out in the Constitution, to give this nominee a fair hearing. Then, they may vote ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ on the vote. If Merrick is not confirmed to the Court, he will be the first nominee in the nation’s history to not make it onto the Court. Political tensions run high as Republicans cite “the Biden Test” from 1992 when Vice President Biden did not want to hold hearings for nominees in election years.
Some see Garland as a pawn in Washington’s political chess game. The man is seen as mostly moderate, purposely chosen by the Obama administration surely, to sway some Republicans in favor of confirming the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit Court. The man was confirmed once before by Republicans to the Circuit Court, held in high esteem by both parties. If he does not receive a hearing, it could make the Senate look bad, as they turn down the person they once praised almost two decades ago. Some believe he was specifically picked to injure the image of the Republican Party if they do not hold a hearing. But no matter the political battles and bickering, there is still a person and their future at stake. The man’s tears as he wept for joy, thinking of how his ultimate dream is about to come true, are enough to tell America that this man is genuine and deserves this position. Not only is he incredibly qualified, but he seems like an incredible person too. Now, the country just has to wait to see if the Senate agrees.