Connecticut U.S. Senator Chris Murphy is continuing to call on his Republican colleagues to hold a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court justice nominee Merrick Garland after meeting with the judge Wednesday.Senator Murphy met with Garland for about an hour discussing campaign finance reform and access to legal representation for the accused. President Obama nominated Garland in March to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, but the Republican-controlled Congress has not called a confirmation hearing. Murphy, a Democrat, says refusing to do so sets a dangerous precedent.
“He’s [Garland] not really in a position to comment politically on what he thinks,” Murphy said. “So I think he’s grinning and bearing it and holding up very well.”
Donald Trump, the de facto Republican presidential nominee, released a list of 11 Supreme Court candidates Wednesday. Murphy says the next president shouldn’t be bound by President Obama’s nomination if Garland isn’t confirmed before the end of his term.
