Judge Merrick Garland, who was nominated by the President in March, is now the longest pending Supreme Court nominee in history as the Court begins a new term this week

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) released the following statement today on the Supreme Court vacancy as the Court begins a new term this week. Judge Garland, who was nominated by the President in March, is now the longest pending Supreme Court nominee in history.

“It has now been more than 200 days since Judge Garland was nominated to the Supreme Court - making him the longest pending nominee in history – and we still haven’t had a hearing or much less a vote. As a result, the Supreme Court will start its new term without a full bench. This will likely mean more split decisions, diminished decisions, delayed decisions, or no decisions on many important issues facing our country. Judge Garland is an exemplary jurist who has received praise from both sides of the aisle during his career. The Senate needs to do its job and give Judge Garland the hearing and up-or-down vote on his nomination that he deserves.”   

??Klobuchar is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over Supreme Court nominees. She served on the Judiciary Committee during the confirmation of Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Prior to her time in the Senate, Klobuchar served as Hennepin County Attorney.

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