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Senator Nelson To Fellow U-S Senators: Give President's Supreme Court Nominee A Chance

Pablo Martinez Monsivais
/
AP Photo
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden applaud Judge Merrick Garland (middle), Obama's nominee to replace Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Florida Senator Bill Nelson says he stands with President Barack Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, the President nominated Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. He’s currently a chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Still, the GOP-led Senate led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is not backing down from its position not to consider any nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

And, U.S. Democratic Senator Bill Nelson says the Senate needs to fulfill its constitutional responsibility by filling the vacancy.

“It clearly says that the President will nominate and the Senate will either confirm or refuse to confirm,” he said, speaking to reporters last month. “It doesn’t say that you don’t even take up the nomination. So, I think it’s a very serious constitutional responsibility that I take seriously.”

After Scalia died last month, Senate Republicans vowed to wait until the next President is in place.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.