President Obama says Senate obligated to vote on Supreme Court nominee

Republicans and some legal scholars dispute Obama's take on the Senate's role in judicial nominations

Barrack Obama
President Barack Obama announces executive action on US immigration policy at a nationally televised address from the White House on Thursday
APPTI Washington
Last Updated : May 17 2016 | 8:35 AM IST
President Barack Obama says he believes the Senate has a constitutional obligation to vote on a president's nomination to the Supreme Court.

Obama made the claim today in an online video interview about his stalled nomination of US Circuit Court Judge Merrick Garland.

Republicans and some legal scholars dispute Obama's take on the Senate's role in judicial nominations. Republicans have maintained they are fulfilling their constitutional duty by choosing not to consider Garland at all.

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The Constitution says the president "shall" appoint judges to the Supreme Court "with the advice and consent of the Senate."

Asked if he thought that meant the Senate had an obligation to hold a vote, Obama tells BuzzFeed News: "I do.

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First Published: May 17 2016 | 1:57 AM IST

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