I strongly believe the Senate has a Constitutional obligation to consider nominations to the Supreme Court, and that is a responsibility I take very seriously. As part of my effort to fulfill that duty, I met with the President’s Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, in my office on Wednesday, April 13, 2016.
The meeting with Judge Garland lasted about an hour, and we had a very thoughtful and productive discussion that helped me better understand his judicial philosophy and his temperament. And importantly, it also helped me get to know him better as a person.
Judge Garland and I discussed a wide variety of issues that included regulatory overreach, executive authority, the Second Amendment, the politicization of the Supreme Court, and the importance of consensus-building. I was impressed by Judge Garland’s answers, the depth and breadth of his knowledge, his measured demeanor, and his respect for the Constitution, the rule of law, and legal precedent.
He is very clearly an exceedingly intelligent, experienced, and well-informed man. And I found him to be what I call a ‘small c conservative’, meaning that he doesn’t consider his role to be one of an activist, and that was reassuring.
The meeting also reaffirmed my strong belief that his nomination should receive full, fair, and open consideration from the Senate. Judge Garland has met with several senators already, including Senator Susan Collins (who has, as usual, taken a reasonable and thoughtful approach on this issue).
During this process, it occurred to me what’s really going on with Judge Garland’s nomination is a slow-motion hearing. Unfortunately, it’s all taking place in private meetings without the public’s ability to participate and observe, and I think that’s too bad. What we ought to be doing is letting the public see Judge Garland, hear him answer questions, get an idea of his judicial philosophy, who he is, what his temperament and personality are. And that’s why I’ll continue to urge my colleagues to hold a public hearing on the nomination.
At the end of our meeting, Judge Garland and I also discussed history, the founding of this country, and the extraordinary moment in time when our forefathers worked together to craft the idea of America that endures today. When I was a kid, it was called the ‘American experiment,’ and it remains an experiment to this day. What we have here in America is unlike anything else in history, and just like the Founding Fathers, we must work together to make sure the American experiment continues to succeed.
It takes thoughtful, serious, capable, and responsible people with the temperament of quiet leadership to move this country forward. I hope we can summon that leadership to do the right thing for the American people and for the country by carefully considering Judge Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
I would never say that another Senator has to vote for Judge Garland, but we owe the American people an open and thoughtful debate. That is our responsibility, and that is what I will keep pushing for in the Senate.
