President Nominates Judge Garland, But Republican Senate May Refuse To Act
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- President Obama made it official on Wednesday.
His nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court is Merrick Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, often called the second highest court in the nation.
At age 63, Garland is older than most, more conservative than many Democrats, and highly regarded as a long-time judge.
As a federal prosecutor, it was Garland who convicted Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City bombing.
"To find someone with such a long career of public service marked by complex and sensitive issues, to find someone who just not only everyone respects but genuinely likes -- that is rare," the President said in announcing his choice.
"For a judge to be worthy of such trust," said Garland, "he or she must be faithful to the Constitution and to the statutes passed by the Congress. He or she must put aside his personal views or preferences and follow the law, not make it."
But it's not clear the Republican-controlled Senate will even hold hearings on the nominee, delaying confirmation for a year hoping a Republican will become president next January.
And some Republican senators may refuse to meet Judge Garland, including U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey as he spoke with KDKA political editor Jon Delano last month.
Delano: "Will you meet..."
Toomey: "I don't see the point. This is not about the qualifications of an individual."
Delano: "Don't you think as a courtesy to the president and the process..."
Toomey: "The President is probably going to make a nomination. That's fine. He has the Constitutional right to do that, but I think everybody knows where this is going to end. The next president is going to make the decision."
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"I think all senators should meet with this nominee. That has been the historic practice since the beginning of this country," said Ken Gormley, president-elect of Duquesne University.
Gormley, a Supreme Court scholar, says the Senate should follow the Constitution, act now, and keep presidential politics out of it.
"Hopefully when the time comes, the Senate will make the correct decision to have hearings, to look at this person's credentials, not to inject politics into it."
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat, says he'll meet Judge Garland and called for a fair hearing and up-or-down Senate vote.
