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Senate GOP Digs In, Won't Consider Garland for High Court

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President Barack Obama has nominated federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland for the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday.

Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. That court has influence over federal policy and national security matters, which makes it a testing ground for serving on the high Court.

Click play to watch CBN News White House Correspondent Jennifer Wishon's updated report on the nomination from Washington.

Garland has been a judge for the last 18 years and the former prosecutor has been referred to as "one of America's sharpest legal minds."If approved, he would replace conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died last month.

Tessa Dysart, a professor of Constitutional Law at Regent University, discusses Garland's history and what his record says about him.

Garland says being true to the law and the Constitution has been the hallmark of his professional life. If confirmed, he promised to bring those ideals to the Supreme Court.

When he accepted the president's nomination, Garland was visibly emotional. He said being nominated by Obama is the greatest honor of his life, with the exception of marrying his wife. He says there is no higher public service.

Garland said judges must follow the law instead of making it. He said they need to set aside their personal views and preferences.

The president wants Senate Republicans to grant hearings and a confirmation vote to his nominee. He says if they don't, they would be shirking their constitutional duty.

Obama said the Supreme Court is supposed to be above politics and failing to hold hearings and a vote would demonstrate the nominating process is "beyond repair."

In addition, the president says if the confirmation process becomes an extension of the presidential race, that would go against America's best traditions.

Garland is scheduled to meet one-on-one with senators on Thursday. Obama announced his nominee at a Rose Garden ceremony; Democratic Senate leaders and allies were in attendance.

The president said Merrick is a hard-working public servant; he highlighted his work leading the investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing.

Obama said Garland has the ability to bring together "odd couples," and that made him a consensus candidate in the best position to become an immediate force on the high court.

The president said Garland was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 1997 with the support of a majority in both parties, including seven current Republicans senators.

Garland is expected to side with liberals on the court, but is not considered a down-the-line liberal on all issues.

Confirming Garland could be a tough proposition. Republicans control the Senate, which must confirm any nominee.

GOP leaders want the next president to make the choice; they don't want Obama to have the opportunity to change the ideological balance of the court before he leaves office.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the American people in November must have a say on how the Supreme Court vacancy will be filled. 
McConnell said Wednesday the Senate will not consider Garland, but will make a decision after the next president is in office

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About The Author

Jennifer
Wishon

As Senior Washington Correspondent for CBN News, Jennifer covers the intersection of faith and politics - often producing longer format stories that dive deep into the most pressing issues facing Americans today. A 20-year veteran journalist, Jennifer has spent most of her career covering politics, most recently at the White House as CBN's chief White House Correspondent covering the Obama and Trump administrations. She's also covered Capitol Hill along with a slew of major national stories from the 2008 financial crisis to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic and every election in between. Jennifer