Amy Klobuchar: “I come to the floor to speak again about the dangerous effects of leaving the current vacancy on the Supreme Court…”

“I come to the floor to speak again about the dangerous effects of leaving the current vacancy on the Supreme Court unfilled and the real consequences that the current vacancy has caused for this country. It has now been more than 6 months since President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill the current vacancy on the Supreme Court, and we still haven't had a hearing, much less a vote. As a result, Judge Garland is now the longest pending Supreme Court nominee in history. Since the Senate has not acted, the Supreme Court will still be without a full complement of Justices when it begins its October term next week. There is a lot at stake in the Supreme Court's upcoming term. The cases that the Court will hear focus on significant issues that affect Americans' everyday lives. Among those cases are important questions involving voting rights and discrimination in housing. The Court will also take up cases on immigration and environmental protection that would impact millions of people across the country. We know they have been taking less cases, and we also know there have been a number of split decisions, including a recent one on a death penalty case. Further delay in the confirmation of a new Justice will compromise the Court's ability to resolve these questions of law effectively.…”