Author: Scalia Would Not Approve Of Republican Stonewall Of Supreme Court Appointee
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Kevin Ring, the author of Scalia's Court, talked with Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT about the legacy of Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court Justice who died earlier this year, and the battle over replacing him on the Supreme Court.
Ring said he doubts Scalia would approve of the Republican's tactic of refusing to meet with or vote on President Obama's appointed successor, Merrick Garland.
"Anybody who was an institutionalist and cared about the Supreme Court, I think, would have difficulty seeing the lack of any process carried out. It would be one thing to say this is a swing vote and we're going to hold you to a higher standard...I think that would be fine for Republicans in the Senate to do. But to put your fingers in your ears and say we're not listening, we're not listening and we won't meet with you because we're scared people may like you, I don't find that a really tasteful way to do this. My guess is as an institutionalist who knew Merrick Garland and probably liked him, he [would think] it was probably shabby treatment."
However, Ring also pointed out that Republicans are well within their legal rights to hold up or even ignore the President's nominee.
"Constitutionally, it's not even a close call. They don't have to do anything. I do make that distinction that, as a prudential matter, I have one view about how they should be handling this. As a Constitutional matter, they don't have to do anything. They don't have to meet with him. Advice and consent could mean we'll give you our advice which is don't send a new one, buddy. I agree that there's no Constitutional requirement for them to do anything."