Obama Nominates Merrick Garland for Supreme Court

President Barack Obama has named Merrick Garland as his nominee for the open spot on the Supreme Court. 

Garland would replace the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. 

Obama says Garland is widely recognized for his excellence.  He praised Garland’s experience on the bench, as well as his ability to build consensus. 

Garland is currently the Chief Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.  

The White House says Garland has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history. 

The president says he went through a “rigorous and comprehensive” process to pick his nominee.   He says he reached out to every member of the Senate Judiciary Committee to seek advice about the nomination. 

Garland was visibly emotional as he accepted the president’s nomination in the White House Rose Garden, with his family watching.  He says being nominated by President Barack Obama is the greatest honor of his life, next to marrying his wife.  

Garlands says judges must set aside their personal preferences and views, and follow the law instead of making it.  Garland will travel to Capitol Hill Thursday to meet one-on-one with senators. 

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the American people must have a voice on filling the Supreme Court vacancy. 

In a speech on the senate floor Wednesday, McConnell made it clear the the GOP-led Senate will not consider Garland, but will wait until after the next president is in place. 

Democrats and the White House are pressuring the GOP to act.