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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Presidential Politics and the US Supreme Court

    President Obama today named a distinguished judge to fill the vacancy on the US Supreme Court. The nominee is a veteran, Merrick Garland , Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, who is well regarded by Senators of both parties.

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    By Warren Olney • Mar 16, 2016 • 22m Listen

    President Obama today named a distinguished judge to fill the vacancy on the US Supreme Court. The nominee is a veteran, Merrick Garland, Chief Judge of the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, who is well regarded by Senators of both parties.

    Nevertheless, Republicans were ready to Just Say "No" — not to the judge himself but to his nomination by an outgoing president. They accuse Obama of politicizing the court — the same charge Democrats have leveled against Republicans under similar circumstances. That's intensifying this year's race for the White House just one day after another round of primary elections.

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Obama Chooses Merrick Garland as SCOTUS Nominee
    1. 1:48Presidential Politics and the US Supreme CourtYou’re reading this
    2. 24:38Trump and Clinton Widen their Lead
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • KCRW placeholder

      Andrea Brody

      Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christine Detz

      Producer, 'To the Point'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Josh Lederman

      Associated Press

    • KCRW placeholder

      Ed Whelan

      Ethics and Public Policy Center

    • KCRW placeholder

      Adam Winkler

      professor of law at UCLA, and author of "Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America"

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    1 of 2
    Obama Chooses Merrick Garland as SCOTUS Nominee
    1. 1:48Presidential Politics and the US Supreme CourtYou’re reading this
    2. 24:38Trump and Clinton Widen their Lead
    Back to To the Point