This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/obama-to-announce-supreme-court-nominee-on-wednesday-a6933731.html

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Obama announces Merrick Garland as Supreme Court nominee Obama announces Merrick Garland as Supreme Court nominee
(about 2 hours later)
President Barack Obama announced Merrick Garland as his nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on Wednesday morning.President Barack Obama announced Merrick Garland as his nominee to replace Justice Antonin Scalia on Wednesday morning.
The 63-year-old Garland has been the chief justice of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit since 1997. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton, working in the Justice Department where he eventually oversaw the prosecutions in the Oklahoma City Bombing.The 63-year-old Garland has been the chief justice of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit since 1997. He was appointed by President Bill Clinton, working in the Justice Department where he eventually oversaw the prosecutions in the Oklahoma City Bombing.
"The one name that has come up repeatedly—from Republicans and Democrats alike—is Merrick Garland,” President Obama said from the Rose Garden. "The one name that has come up repeatedly—from Republicans and Democrats alike—is Merrick Garland,” President Obama said from the Rose Garden. 
President Obama then asked the Senate to give Judge Garland a fair hearing and said that the Supreme Court is supposed to be “above politics.”President Obama then asked the Senate to give Judge Garland a fair hearing and said that the Supreme Court is supposed to be “above politics.”
“To suggest that someone as qualified and respected as Merrick Garland doesn’t even deserve a hearing would be unprecedented."“To suggest that someone as qualified and respected as Merrick Garland doesn’t even deserve a hearing would be unprecedented."
Reuters previously reported that President Obama would decide between Judge Sri Srinivasan or Judge Garland to replace Justice Scalia, who passed away on February 13. Both Srinivasan, 49, and Garland serve together on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.Reuters previously reported that President Obama would decide between Judge Sri Srinivasan or Judge Garland to replace Justice Scalia, who passed away on February 13. Both Srinivasan, 49, and Garland serve together on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
However, Senate Republicans have vowed to block President Obama’s nominee for the lifetime position on the court. The Republicans hope to stall the decision until a new president is elected come November and have even created a task force to do so. However, Senate House Leader Mitch McConnell and his Replican party members has repeatedly said that he would not consider President Obama’s nomination leading up to the announcement. During Wednesday’s Senate meeting, McConnell said that the next justice could fundamentally alter the course of the nation’s history.
“We’re going to hold everyone accountable and make sure Democrats have to answer to the American people for why they don’t want voters to have a say in this process,” Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus previously said in a statement. "It seems clear that President Obama made this nomination not with the intent of seeing the nominee confirmed, but in order to politicize it for purposes of the election," McConnell said on the floor of the Senate.
"Instead of spending more time debating an issue where we can't agree, let's keep working to address the issues where we can," the Kentucky senator added. "The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter when it considers the qualifications of the nominee the next president nominates, whoever that might be.”