[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3277]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE TO THE SUPREME COURT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, in just a few minutes President Obama will 
officially announce his nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 
considering a nomination to the highest Court in the Nation, the 
President has said he would adhere to three important principles: 
First, the nominee must possess impeccable credentials. That means an 
outstanding education, critical judicial experience, and an expert 
understanding of the law. Second, the nominee should have a keen 
awareness of the judiciary's role. That means understanding the Court's 
constitutional place in our government, and its limitations; third, and 
finally, life experience. A qualified Supreme Court Justice is someone 
with an understanding of the realities that Americans face each and 
every day.
  I have no doubt how hard this must have been for the President. I 
have no doubt President Obama's nominee will possess these important 
attributes just outlined. Once President Obama has done his 
constitutional duty and announced publicly this nominee, it will then 
fall upon the Senate to provide its advice and consent. For 100 years 
we have had these hearings in public, going back to during Justice 
Brandeis' hearing.
  The Republican leader has made it clear that he and his caucus have 
no intention of considering the nominee. It is hard to comprehend but 
that is what he said, and it appears at this stage, basically, all 
Republicans have fallen in line with this. I hope President Obama's 
nomination of an exceptionally qualified and consensus nominee will 
persuade Senate Republicans to change course. I do hope they will do 
their constitutional duty and give President Obama's nominee a meeting, 
a hearing, and a vote. He is doing his job this morning. Republicans 
should do theirs this morning too.
  Mr. President, will the Presiding Officer announce the business of 
the day.

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