Warner: Garland deserves Senate vote

U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.) met with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland today, and afterwards repeated his call for the Senate Judiciary Committee to schedule confirmation hearings and an up-or-down vote on Judge Garland’s nomination.

Last month, President Obama nominated Judge Garland, the chief judge of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to fill the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February.

“I had a productive conversation with Judge Garland about his judicial philosophy, and Virginians and Americans deserve the same opportunity to hear his thoughtful answers. As a senator who has considered the nominations of previous U.S. Supreme Court nominees, I think it is very important that the constitutional process move forward as the framers intended,” Sen. Warner said. “Virginians do not want the same partisan gridlock that’s impacted Congress in recent years to be extended to our country’s judicial branch of government. After a fair hearing, my colleagues have every right to vote their conscience, but they should not obstruct this process altogether.”

“I call upon my Republican colleagues to do their job, and allow the process to move forward: give this qualified nominee the hearing and the vote he deserves,” Sen. Warner said.