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

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See also: Process to fill the vacated seat of Justice Antonin Scalia

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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:

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

[8]

”
—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.

[8]

”
—Chuck Grassley[10]

Orrin Hatch

Sen. and President Pro Tempore Orrin Hatch (Utah), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:


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."

David Perdue

Sen. David Perdue (GA), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:

Marco Rubio

Sen. Marco Rubio (FL) and 2016 presidential candidate::

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

[8]

”
—Thom Tillis[11]

David Vitter

Sen. David Vitter (LA), a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:

Democrats

Richard Blumenthal

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (CT):

Dick Durbin

Sen. Dick Durbin, a member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:

Patrick Leahy

Sen. Patrick Leahy (VT), ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:

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):

Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), 2016 Democratic presidential candidate:

U.S. House

Republicans

Paul Ryan

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (WI):

Democrats

Nancy Pelosi

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA):

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ San Antonio-Express News, "Senior U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia found dead at West Texas ranch," accessed February 13, 2016
  2. ↑ The New York Times, "Justice Antonin Scalia, Who Led a Conservative Renaissance on the Supreme Court, Is Dead at 79," February 13, 2016
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named TheHill
  4. ↑ NPR, "President Obama To Announce Merrick Garland As Supreme Court Nominee," accessed March 16, 2016
  5. ↑ United States Court of Appeals District of Columbia Circuit, "Merrick B. Garland," accessed August 22, 2013
  6. ↑ Los Angeles Times, "Profiles of three possible successors to Justice John Paul Stevens," April 10, 2010
  7. ↑ Twitter, "Stephen Hayes," February 13, 2016
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  9. ↑ The Hill, "Judiciary chairman: No decision on hearing for SCOTUS nominee," February 16, 2016
  10. ↑ The Hill, "Judiciary chair: 'Standard practice' to not confirm SCOTUS nominee in election year," February 13, 2016
  11. ↑ The Hill, "GOP unity cracks in court fight," February 16, 2016
  12. ↑ Senate.gov, "Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking member, Senate Judiciary Committee, On The Death Of Justice Scalia," February 13, 2016
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