'Maximum test': Obama's pick for Supreme Court vacancy challenges GOP opposition
US President Barack Obama announced the nomination of Merrick Garland to replace the late Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court on Tuesday. As Republicans vow to block the president's nomination, the social media world lit up with its own reactions to the news.
READ MORE: Obama nominates Merrick Garland to replace Scalia on Supreme Court
Garland, 63, is currently chief judge of the US Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia. Obama previously considered him for Supreme Court nominations in 2009 and 2010.
Republicans in the Senate have already said they will not hold confirmation hearings to vote on the nominee. The partisan protest against the president appointing a Supreme Court justice during his final months in office has clashed with bipartisan praise which Garland has received in the past.
Garland previously worked in the Justice Department under President George H.W. Bush before being appointed by President Bill Clinton to the US Court of Appeals.
READ MORE: Inside the war rooms: What happens now with the US Supreme Court?
.@alfranken: I think there are a lot of people that don't want to see @realDonaldTrump nominate the next #SCOTUS Justice #AMR@MSNBC
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) March 16, 2016
Statement on President Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court: pic.twitter.com/GTcLMLyS6I
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 16, 2016
Judge Garland is a strong nominee with decades of experience on the bench. @POTUS has done his job. It’s time for Republicans to do theirs.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) March 16, 2016
I feel bad for Garland. He's gotta feel like the kid of two divorced parents that never stop fighting about him. #SCOTUSnominee
— Elliott Rains (@elliottrains) March 16, 2016
"That face you make"
— Steve Marmel (@Marmel) March 16, 2016
Via @OccupyDemocrats#SCOTUSnomineepic.twitter.com/oK1J6MvqsR
"He is the right man for the job. He deserves to be confirmed." —@POTUS on his #SCOTUSnominee Merrick Garland https://t.co/c7xefbX3pc
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 16, 2016
@WhiteHouse@POTUS on what planet does this happen before an election? Media grab by BO.
— Matt Cyr (@mattcyr2312) March 16, 2016
With Garland nomination, @POTUS is putting @GOP blockade to max test. By any measure, he's highly qualified, temperate & broadly acceptable.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) March 16, 2016
Hearing how Garland most "anti-gun" in decades. Mainly because not supportive of newly created rights under Heller.Rights that go back to 08
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) March 16, 2016
@WhiteHouse@POTUS I never heard of the name "Merrick" before so I don't trust him
— Tommie Boy (@tommieboy77) March 16, 2016
@thinkprogress GOP voters have to look past own self interest and realize this is a real threat to our Constitution
— Adrian R. Leaks (@adrianleaks) March 16, 2016
Honest to God, Jesus could have risen, gotten his law degree and the GOP would say no because Obama picked him. #SCOTUSnominee
— Kim Ziemann (@kziemann) March 16, 2016
