Obama Warns Senate: Democracy Will Suffer if You Don’t Grant Garland a Fair Hearing

As he announced the nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland for the United States Supreme Court Wednesday morning, President Obama took the opportunity to warn the Senate that failing to grant Judge Garland a hearing would be an affront to the American democratic process.

Ever since Antonin Scalia‘s sudden passing, the president has vowed to choose a successor even as his Republican opposition promised to refuse consideration of anyone who isn’t nominated by the next president. As he spoke from the White House, Obama said that it would be a “betrayal of our best traditions” if the nomination of a new justice continues to be tied to political squabbles and power plays.

“This is precisely the time when we should play it straight,” Obama said, “and treat the process of appointing a Supreme Court justice with the seriousness and care it deserves.”

Obama continued to defend Garland’s qualifications for the court, and to say that it was the Senate’s responsibility to the country that they give him a fair hearing. The president argued that if they still refuse, it would be a partisan refusal of duty that will “begin a process that is beyond repair.”

The reputation of the Supreme Court will inevitably suffer. Faith in our justice system will inevitably suffer. Our democracy will ultimately suffer as well. I have fulfilled my Constitutional duty. Now it’s time for the Senate to do theirs.”

Watch above, via CNN.

[image via screengrab]

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