Senator Coons to meet with Chief Judge Merrick Garland

Delaware U.S. Senator Chris Coons is set to meet with Supreme Court Justice nominee Merrick Garland.

A vast majority of Senate Republicans insist they will hold neither hearings, nor an up-or-down vote on the Chief Judge’s nomination. 

This is leaving the Supreme Court without a full bench, while critical cases are being considered. Senator Coons says he has questions about the opinions Chief Judge Garland has written, as well as his view of the law. For example, the Second Amendment.

He says it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to ask how Chief Judge Garland would rule on certain cases. However, Coons believes his fellow senators should follow suit in terms of at least having such meetings.

He continues, “I understand that advice and consent may mean that in the current senate he isn’t confirmed. But, for us to refuse to have a hearing, for the senate to refuse to give him a vote, I think is inappropriate and would set a bad new precedent.”

Senator Coons will be meeting with Chief Judge Garland next Thursday.