Washington (March 16, 2016) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) released the following statement after President Obama nominated D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the United States Supreme Court.

“With his nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, President Obama has fulfilled his constitutional obligation to nominate a judge to fill the vacancy caused by the untimely death of Justice Antonin Scalia.  It is now time for the Senate to fulfill its constitutional obligation to provide its ‘Advice and Consent’ on the nomination.  That means the Senate Judiciary Committee must hold a hearing on Judge Garland’s nomination, and consistent with long-standing Senate practice, send that nomination to the Senate floor for a vote.  There is no magic asterisk in the Constitution, no fine print, that says ‘not in an election year’ or ‘not during the last year of an opposition President’s term in office.’  Senate Republicans’ promise to block consideration of this nominee now leaves us with two vacancies, one on the Supreme Court and the other in their judgment and respect for the Constitution.  If Senate Republicans refuse to hold a hearing on Judge Garland’s nomination, it will constitute an historic failure to do their job.  Senate Republicans must do their job and give the American people the fully functioning Supreme Court to which they are entitled under the Constitution.”   

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