Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired from the court in 2010, said Thursday that the Senate should “go ahead and hold a hearing” for President Obama’s nominee Merrick Garland.
Stevens made the remarks at a forum at the New York Historical Society, according to the Huffington Post, where he also said it was “really unfortunate” the seat vacated by the late Justice Antonin Scalia likely will still be vacant when the court begins a new term in October.
“I’m not aware of any confirmation process that’s been delayed to the extent that this one is,” Stevens said.
Stevens joins former Justice Sandra Day O’Connor in supporting Obama’s efforts to have his nominee considered. She said in February that she didn’t agree with the GOP stance that the appointment should wait until the next president is inaugurated, arguing “we need somebody there now to do the job and get on with it.”
The current justices have played down the effect of the vacancy on their workload, though there have been signs that it has not been business as usual at the court.
Stevens said Thursday that “there are certain cases you just can’t decide” with the court lacking a ninth justice, according to the Huffington Post. He also said that Garland was a “really fine judge and an awfully decent man” and Obama “couldn’t have picked a better” nominee.
