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Members of Congress on the death of Antonin Scalia and the Supreme Court vacancy

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On February 13, 2016, Justice Antonin Scalia "was found dead of apparent natural causes" while visiting "the Cibolo Creek Ranch, a resort in the Big Bend region south of Marfa," Texas, according to the San Antonio-Express News.[1] Scalia was a member of the U.S. Supreme Court for three decades. He was considered "a champion of originalism" and the dominant conservative voice of the Court.[2][3]
On March 16, 2016, President Barack Obama announced Merrick Garland as his nominee to fill the Justice Scalia's seat on the United States Supreme Court.[4] Garland is chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He joined the court in 1997 after being nominated by former President Bill Clinton.[5]
In 2010, Garland was considered a front-runner for nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States following the retirement of Justice John Paul Stevens. Justice Elena Kagan was chosen instead.[6]
This page will track notable tweets, public comments and statements made by prominent members of Congress about Justice Scalia's death, the nomination process and Chief Judge Garland.
U.S. Senate
Republicans
Ted Cruz
Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), 2016 presidential candidate and a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
Justice Scalia was an American hero. We owe it to him, & the Nation, for the Senate to ensure that the next President names his replacement.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 13, 2016
Lindsey Graham
Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Stated that he would not vote for a nominee from Obama unless it was an "overwhelming consensus choice."[7]
Chuck Grassley
Sen. Chuck Grassley (Iowa), chairman of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
February 16, 2016:
“ | I would wait until the nominee is made before I would make any decisions. ... In other words, take it a step at a time | ” |
—Chuck Grassley[9] |
February 13, 2016:
“ | The fact of the matter is that it’s been standard practice over the last 80 years to not confirm Supreme Court nominees during a presidential election year. Given the huge divide in the country, and the fact that this president, above all others, has made no bones about his goal to use the courts to circumvent Congress and push through his own agenda, it only makes sense that we defer to the American people who will elect a new president to select the next Supreme Court Justice. | ” |
—Chuck Grassley[10] |
Orrin Hatch
Sen. and President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch (Utah), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
Hatch on @FoxNews earlier tonight: "It would be wise for everybody to wait until the next president is chosen."
— Senator Hatch Office (@SenOrrinHatch) February 14, 2016
Senator Hatch's full statement on the passing of his friend Justice Scalia. pic.twitter.com/FLkQ4OcKpo
— Senator Hatch Office (@SenOrrinHatch) February 14, 2016
Mitch McConnell
Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY): "The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President."
My statement on the passing of Judge Scalia. pic.twitter.com/4JSmbKWzDy
— Leader McConnell (@SenateMajLdr) February 13, 2016
David Perdue
Sen. David Perdue (GA), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
America has lost a brilliant Constitutional mind. We join the nation in lifting the Scalia family up in prayer.
— David Perdue (@sendavidperdue) February 13, 2016
Marco Rubio
Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) and 2016 presidential candidate::
Jeanette & I mourn the loss of Justice Scalia, and our thoughts & prayers are with his wife Maureen & his family. pic.twitter.com/e03KRZRM6q
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 13, 2016
Thom Tillis
Sen. Thoms Tillis (N.C.), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
“ | I think we fall into the trap, if we just simply say sight unseen — we fall into the trap of being obstructionist | ” |
—Thom Tillis[11] |
David Vitter
Sen. David Vitter (LA), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
JusticeScalia was a brilliant jurist who truly understood & respected the Constitution, exactly what we need more of. He'll be sorely missed
— David Vitter (@DavidVitter) February 13, 2016
Democrats
Richard Blumenthal
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT):
I hope @POTUS will promptly nominate someone w/strong intellect & integrity who can win bipartisan support.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) February 13, 2016
Dick Durbin
Sen. Dick Durbin, a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
While our opinions were frequently at odds Justice Scalia remained true to his beliefs in 3 decades of service. My thoughts are w his family
— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) February 13, 2016
Patrick Leahy
Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT), ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:
Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Death Of Justice Scalia https://t.co/msWHAz1KjK
— Sen. Patrick Leahy (@SenatorLeahy) February 13, 2016
From Leahy's press release: "The Supreme Court of the United States is too important to our democracy for it to be understaffed for partisan reasons. It is only February. The President and the Senate should get to work without delay to nominate, consider and confirm the next justice to serve on the Supreme Court."[12]
Harry Reid
Sen. Minority Leader Harry Reid (NV):
Would be unprecedented in recent history for SCOTUS to go year with vacancy. And shameful abdication of our constitutional responsibility.
— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) February 13, 2016
Bernie Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), 2016 Democratic presidential candidate:
My thoughts and prayers are with Justice Scalia's family and his colleagues on the court who mourn his passing. pic.twitter.com/Y51xUMMEId
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 13, 2016
U.S. House
Republicans
Paul Ryan
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (WI):
I learned so much from Justice Scalia. We all did. Tonight, Janna & I offer our sympathy & prayers to his family. pic.twitter.com/IcBds0iQ1C
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) February 14, 2016
Democrats
Nancy Pelosi
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA):
Saddened to learn of the passing of Justice Scalia, who made history as first Italian American named to the SCOTUS. https://t.co/KV7u52pQ6I
— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 13, 2016
See also
- 2016 presidential candidates on the death of Antonin Scalia and the Supreme Court vacancy
- Process to fill the vacated seat of Justice Antonin Scalia
- What happens to this term's major SCOTUS cases in a 4-4 split?
- Antonin Scalia
- United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary
- Presidential candidates, 2016
- Merrick Garland
Footnotes
- ↑ San Antonio-Express News, "Senior U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at West Texas ranch," accessed February 13, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Justice Antonin Scalia, Who Led a Conservative Renaissance on the Supreme Court, Is Dead at 79," February 13, 2016
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ NPR, "President Obama To Announce Merrick Garland As Supreme Court Nominee," accessed March 16, 2016
- ↑ United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, "Merrick B. Garland," accessed August 22, 2013
- ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Profiles of three possible successors to Justice John Paul Stevens," April 10, 2010
- ↑ Twitter, "Stephen Hayes," February 13, 2016
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Hill, "Judiciary chairman: No decision on hearing for SCOTUS nominee," February 16, 2016
- ↑ The Hill, "Judiciary chair: 'Standard practice' to not confirm SCOTUS nominee in election year," February 13, 2016
- ↑ The Hill, "GOP unity cracks in court fight," February 16, 2016
- ↑ Senate.gov, "Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Death Of Justice Scalia," February 13, 2016