The Nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court
A Look Back at a Controversial Decision
On March 16, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to serve as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
The Garland Nomination
Garland was a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was considered by many to be a moderate nominee with a long history of bipartisan support.
However, the Republican-controlled Senate refused to hold a vote on Garland's nomination. This decision was highly controversial and led to accusations that the Republicans were trying to block Obama from filling a Supreme Court vacancy with a liberal judge.
The Aftermath
The Garland nomination was a major political battle that ultimately ended in defeat for Obama and the Democrats.
The Republicans' decision to block Garland's nomination set a precedent for future Supreme Court vacancies. In 2018, President Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the Court. The Senate confirmed Gorsuch without holding hearings or allowing any debate.
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