Senator: Gorsuch Without Principle Because He Didn't Turn Down SCOTUS Nomination For Garland

Sick burn, Senator.

'Ha, like I'd give up this job.' (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

‘Ha, like I’d give up this job.’ (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

I’m not going to be part of a court-packing scheme. This seat, for the first time in U.S. history, was stolen from one president and delivered to the next with the hope of packing the court to the far right. And with Gorsuch, we’re talking to the very far right. If this effort to steal a seat succeeds, then forever more the temptation is going to be there to do the same. It puts a big cloud over any 5-4 decision and it puts a big cloud over the integrity of the court. In fact, if Neil Gorsuch had principle, he would have turned down this nomination on the basis that the person who should be nominated is Merrick Garland.

— Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), speaking about Judge Merrick Garland’s “stolen” Supreme Court seat during an interview with Wolf Blitzer. Merkley is one of 28 Democrats willing to filibuster Judge Neil Gorsuch’s nomination to the high court.


Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is an editor at Above the Law. She’d love to hear from you, so feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Sponsored