To: The United States Senate
Remind Americans: a Supreme Court Seat is Being Stolen!
We urge all fair-minded Senators to hold hearings on Judge Merrick Garland and confirm him without delay: the stonewalling of this appointment is a dereliction of the Senate's duty, and the theft of a Supreme Court seat taken from one administration and delivered to the next. If the Senate doesn't proceed in good faith, we urge members of the next Senate to block future nominees, unless they meet the standards of fairness and balance represented by Judge Garland.
Why is this important?
Justice Scalia died on 2/13/16. On 3/16/16, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill the vacant seat. Garland is the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals, and is highly qualified and respected on all sides. But the Republicans have refused to give Judge Garland a hearing, or a vote.
If Republican Senators continue to stonewall, they need to pay for this in the court of public opinion. Americans need to understand why the Democratic caucus is likely to be unreceptive to Trump’s nominees.
The balance of the Supreme Court affects us all: the fairness of elections as in money in the Citizens United case, or race in the Voting Rights Act; marriage equality; environmental protections, energy policy, and responses to a warming globe.
If you would like to know more, please search for Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley’s interview on the Chris Hayes’ Show on 11/10/16.
If Republican Senators continue to stonewall, they need to pay for this in the court of public opinion. Americans need to understand why the Democratic caucus is likely to be unreceptive to Trump’s nominees.
The balance of the Supreme Court affects us all: the fairness of elections as in money in the Citizens United case, or race in the Voting Rights Act; marriage equality; environmental protections, energy policy, and responses to a warming globe.
If you would like to know more, please search for Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley’s interview on the Chris Hayes’ Show on 11/10/16.