Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement on Merrick Garland’s nomination to the Supreme Court:

“Today, President Obama fulfilled his constitutional duty by nominating Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Now it’s time for the Senate to do its own job and fully and fairly consider this nominee.

“I don’t know of any judge who is more tried and tested than Merrick Garland, and his qualifications are impeccable.

“A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Judge Garland has served since 1997 on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. In addition to clerking for Supreme Court Justice William Brennan and famed Judge Henry Friendly, Judge Garland also has experience as partner at a prestigious law firm.

“But he left the biggest impression during his time at the Justice Department where he oversaw the prosecutions of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. He proved to be a meticulous and fastidious investigator and has served the American people with distinction.

Republican support

“It’s my belief that Judge Garland is a consensus candidate of the highest stature. In March 1997, Senator Hatch spoke in glowing terms during Judge Garland’s Appeals Court nomination.

“Senator Hatch said, and I quote, ‘Based solely on his qualifications, I support the nomination of Mr. Garland, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.’

“He continued: ‘To my knowledge, no one—absolutely no one—disputes the following: Merrick B. Garland is highly qualified to sit on the D.C. Circuit. His intelligence and his scholarship cannot be questioned.

“Senator Hatch added that he couldn’t think of a better candidate: ‘I believe Mr. Garland is a fine nominee. I know him personally, I know of his integrity, I know of his legal ability, I know of his honesty, I know of his acumen, and he belongs on the court. I believe he is not only a fine nominee, but is as good as Republicans can expect from this administration. In fact, I would place him at the top of the list.’

“To my Republican colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, I ask them to do their job. Give Judge Garland full and fair consideration. It’s your constitutional duty, and I believe the only responsible thing to do.”