Congressman Cohen Calls for Hearing and Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Judge Merrick Garland

[WASHINGTON, DC] – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, today called upon the Senate Majority to hold a fair confirmation hearing and a timely up-or-down vote on President Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee, Judge Merrick Garland. Judge Garland serves as the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

“Judge Merrick Garland is a highly qualified candidate to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the late Justice Antonin Scalia,” said Congressman Cohen. “It is unprecedented for Senate Republicans to block Judge Garland simply because it is an election year. This is just simply yet another attack on President Obama. The Senate should fulfill its constitutional duty and hold a fair confirmation hearing and a timely up-or-down vote on Judge Garland, so the Supreme Court can return to its full capacity.”

In 1988, a Democratic Senate voted on, and confirmed by a 97-0 vote, Justice Anthony Kennedy, a Reagan appointee, during President Reagan’s last year in office.