Statement on Nomination of Merrick Garland to U.S. Supreme Court

March 16, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Obama announced Merrick Garland, Chief Justice for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as his nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. In response, LULAC National President Roger C. Rocha, Jr. issued the following statement:

“Judge Garland’s decades of judicial experience and his commitment to public service make him eminently qualified to serve as an U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Now that President Obama has fulfilled his constitutional duty by nominating a justice to fill the vacancy on the court, we call upon the U.S. Senate to meet their 'advice and consent' obligation and ultimately hold a vote on Judge Garland's nomination. The American people deserve to have a Supreme Court composed of all 9 members who can decide constitutional matters that affect our fundamental rights. With so many issues of importance to the Latino community pending before the Supreme Court, such as President Obama’s administrative actions on immigration, we urge the Senate to act swiftly in considering and confirming Judge Garland. Doing anything short of that would be putting party politics ahead of the interests of the American people."

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The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.