How a judicial confirmation is supposed to work

Republicans breaking with McConnell



NRA’s top lawyer supported Garland


Hillary Clinton on GOP’s refusal to #DoYourJob

Republican support for Garland





“I have no doubts that Garland would get a lot of [Senate] votes. And I will do my best to help him get them.” [Orrin Hatch, Reuters, 5/6/2010]
“I know Merrick Garland very well … He would be very well supported by all sides [as a Supreme Court nominee] and the president knows that.” [Orrin Hatch, Reuters, 5/6/2010]
“Now I would like to state, for all of my colleagues here, that he is a very good nominee — I commend the Administration for being willing to nominate Merrick Garland…. I hope, since he is a good nominee — I think almost everybody would have to admit he’s a good nominee — that we will vote him out next week. I understand the argument against that, there is no argument against Merrick Garland at all, and perhaps we can solve that problem in the future.” [Orrin Hatch, Senate Judiciary Committee, 12/8/1995]
“To my knowledge, no one, absolutely no one disputes the following: Merrick B. Garland is highly qualified to sit on the D.C. circuit. His intelligence and his scholarship cannot be questioned.” [Orrin Hatch, Congressional Record, 3/19/97]
“Accordingly, I believe Mr. Garland is a fine nominee. I know him personally, I know of his integrity, I know of his legal ability, I know of his honesty, I know of his acumen, and he belongs on the court. I believe he is not only a fine nominee, but is as good as Republicans can expect from this administration. In fact, I would place him at the top of the list.” [Orrin Hatch, Congressional Record, 3/19/97]
“I do not think there is a legitimate argument against Mr. Garland’s nomination, and I hope that our colleagues will vote to confirm him today.” [Orrin Hatch, Congressional Record, 3/19/97]
“I have nothing against the nominee. Mr. Garland seems to be well qualified and would probably make a good judge — in some other court.” [Chuck Grassley, Congressional Record, 3/19/97]
Obama’s 300+ days in office

Videos
90 Times Republicans demand vote on judges




Link to full quotes and individual shareables:
Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has vowed not to hold committee hearings or vote for whomever…medium.com
Mitch McConnell demanded an up-or-down vote 24 times:
In his 31 years as a senator, Mitch McConnell has argued that the Senate must fulfill its Constitutional duty and vote…medium.com
History

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. A full list of supporters is available here. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.