Obama Nominates Merrick Garland to U.S. Supreme Court
March 16, 2016Human Rights
U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated Merrick Garland, a veteran federal appeals court judge viewed as a moderate, to the U.S. Supreme Court, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer told Reuters.
The nomination of Garland, 63, who currently serves as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, would set up a potentially ferocious political showdown with Senate Republicans.
Garland would replace Antonin Scalia, the far-right justice who died last month.
A long-time appellate judge and former prosecutor, Garland, 63, was also considered when Obama needed to fill two previous Supreme Court vacancies.
Obama said in a statement released by the White House that he will unveil his nominee at 11 a.m. EDT in the White House Rose Garden. Schumer is a member of the Senate Democratic leadership.
Garland, who in the past has earned praise from lawmakers of both parties, was named to his current job by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1997, winning Senate confirmation in a 76-23 vote. Prior to that, he served in the Justice Department during the Clinton administration.
Watch: President Obama praises Merrick Garland for Bipartisian accomplishments
