Chris Coons: “I come to the floor to address the question of the ongoing vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. I listened with great…”

“I come to the floor to address the question of the ongoing vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. I listened with great interest to the remarks of my friend and colleague from the State of Missouri, and I think we have reached a different conclusion about how and when the American people should have their say in the question of the filling of this vacancy. In my view, vacancies on the Supreme Court of the United States have consequences, and vacancies that go on for a great length of time have even bigger consequences. I don't believe there has been a vacancy that has lasted a year since roughly the time of the Civil War. Although we don't know this today, we don't know how long this vacancy may last. My concern is that in the absence of a willingness to meet with the President's nominee--to hold hearings and to proceed to a vote--should that position remain firm on the part of my colleagues on the other side, we are likely looking at a year-long vacancy. I certainly agree with my colleague, my friend from Missouri, that the Supreme Court plays an absolutely central role in our constitutional order. As he recited at length, the cases decided are of great significance. I bring to my colleague's attention that in recent weeks, on March 22 and March 29, the Court handed down tied decisions in two central cases.…”