Supreme Court of the United States

Yesterday, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The Senate now needs to fulfill their responsibilities regarding the nomination and hold hearings on Justice Garland’s nomination. The Senators can then vote yay or nay on the nomination, but hearings should go forward.

I’ve heard their latest argument, the Democrats started this fight. In 2006, the Democrats attempted to filibuster the nomination of Justice Samuel Alito. I agree with Senator McConnell that the Democrats should not have done this. However, it does not mean that Senate Republicans should now refuse to hold hearings on the nomination of Justice Garland. Did their moms never tell them that two wrongs do not make a right?

There are 10 months left in President Obama’s administration. The President’s job is not over and one of his responsibilities is to nominate judges to fill Supreme Court vacancies. He did just that by nominating Merrick Garland.

There is another group whose job is not yet over and it is the United States Senate. One of their responsibilities is to hold hearing and examine the fitness of the nomination made by President Obama. It is now time for them to do that job.

I am not sure what they are even thinking at this point. There is a good chance that Donald Trump, and this thought makes me cringe, is going to end up the Republican nominee. What makes them think that after the election their choice won’t be worse. Justice Garland could be their best option.

I don’t know if Merrick Garland would be a good Supreme Court justice. I am not a judicial scholar. However, I do know that the Republican Senators need to do their job and hold hearings so that they can vet this nominee. They chose to run for office and now they need to do their jobs. Do you agree?