Merrick Garland’s Nomination Ends In Inaction

U.S. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court expired last week, after 10 months of Senate inaction. That clears the way for President-elect Donald Trump to fill the seat, vacated after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last year. Congressional Republicans announced their plan to obstruct any nominee put forth by President Obama within hours of Scalia’s death, saying it was a way to let voters weigh in on the Supreme Court’s direction by voting for president. Democrats say Republicans “stole” a nomination that was President Obama’s right to make. “What Senate Republicans did to Judge Garland, the Supreme Court, and the Constitution was appalling,” said the Senate’s new Democratic leader, Sen. Charles Schumer of New York.