Quigley Statement on President Obama’s Supreme Court Nomination

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) released the following statement in response to President Obama nominating Merrick Garland, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to fill Justice Antonin Scalia's seat on the U.S. Supreme Court:

"Congratulations to Chief Judge Merrick Garland, a fellow native Chicagoan, on his nomination by President Obama to the U.S. Supreme Court. Simply put, his exceptional federal judicial experience makes him highly qualified to serve on the Supreme Court. In considering Chief Judge Garland, President Obama has held him up to the highest of standards, and I believe he exemplifies the principles laid out by the president as being key to upholding our democracy today. Chief Judge Garland has dedicated his life to public service and has taken on some of the nation's most significant anti-terrorism cases, having run the Oklahoma City bombing investigation and the Unabomber investigation. Today's announcement is part of President Obama's constitutional duties. And now I urge the Senate to hold up their end of the constitution and move quickly to give Chief Judge Garland a fair confirmation hearing with an up-or-down vote. It is what the American people deserve from their government."