Foster Attends President Obama’s Supreme Court Discussion

Chicago, IL – On Thursday at the University of Chicago Law School, Congressman Bill Foster (IL-11) joined students, faculty, and other members of Congress, for a discussion with President Obama about the Supreme Court and our country's judicial system – including the need for the Senate to do its job and give the President's Supreme Court nominee a fair hearing.

In March, President Obama nominated Chicago-native Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court. Judge Garland has served for more than 18 years as a federal judge, and was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 1997 with a bipartisan vote.

Senate Republicans have thus far refused to consider the nomination. "It is the Senate's constitutional responsibility to advise and consent on the President's nomination to the Supreme Court. The Court is too important to leave it short a Justice because of partisan politics," Foster said.

Forty-seven years ago, Congressman Foster's father – who was an active civil rights lawyer – found himself engaged in a similar political stalemate.

"I'm reminded of my father's testimony on the nomination of Clement Haynesworth to the Supreme Court in 1969," said Foster. "Although they were on opposite ends of the political spectrum, my father found Judge Haynesworth to be an intelligent and fair-minded person, deserving of fair consideration in the Senate – and not unfair partisan attacks. There is simply no reason why the Senate shouldn't immediately take up consideration of Merrick Garland's nomination. The Constitution is clear on this issue – it's time for the Senate to do its job for the good of our nation's judiciary, and the American People."

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