As announced, Senators Jim Inhofe and James Lankford met with President Obama’s nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Merrick Garland. They extended their appreciation for Garland’s working during the investigation of the Oklahoma City Bombing. However, both continued their stance of not supporting a Supreme Court nominee during an election year.
“During our time with Judge Garland, we extended Oklahoma’s gratitude for the many weeks he spent in our state working for justice for those who lost loved ones from the Oklahoma City Bombing. Judge Garland was aware going into this meeting that we will not support any Supreme Court nomination during this presidential election year,” said Lankford.
Oklahoma’s junior Senator also outlined that the Senate was exercising its constitutional duty.
“The Senate’s constitutional role of ‘advice and consent’ includes the ability to choose the right time and determine if the nominee is the right person. Well before the President nominated Judge Garland, the majority of the Members of the Senate determined that a presidential election year is not the right time to start a nomination process for the Supreme Court. We should continue the long-standing election-year precedent and let Americans have a voice on the future direction of the Court.”
