Senators Burr and Tillis Must Demand Senate Majority Leader McConnell Give Supreme Court Nominee a Vote

Statement

Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement on President Obama's nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court:

"The President has done his job in nominating a highly qualified judge to the Supreme Court. Now, it is time for Senators Burr and Tillis to demand that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gives a fair hearing and timely vote on the President's nominee. Senator Tillis sits on the committee responsible for the hearings on Judge Garland's nomination. I know Senator Tillis can convince Chairman Chuck Grassley to hold a confirmation hearing on Judge Garland's nomination.

"A fully functioning Supreme Court is too important for North Carolina's senators to be a party to the Republican obstruction of Judge Garland's nomination. Having a fully functioning Supreme Court is critical for North Carolina because the Court is considering some of the most controversial issues facing our state- from voting rights, to affirmative action, to the President's immigration plan.

"Senators Burr and Tillis should not take their oath to "faithfully discharge the duties of the office" of U.S. Senator lightly. Chief Justice Roberts has previously noted the "persistent problem of judicial vacancies" and the harm it does to a fully functioning judicial system. Therefore, this vacancy on the Supreme Court must be considered a judicial emergency.

"There have been 17 justices confirmed to the Supreme Court during an election year. This year should be no different. Judge Garland should be considered based on his merits, not on Republicans' political calculations or partisan grandstanding. This overt display of raw politics is dangerous for North Carolina, for our system of government, and for our country."

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