Following the passing of Justice Scalia, President Obama has appointed Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court.

On February 13th, Justice Scalia died at the age of 79 while visiting Texas. Scalia was pronounced dead of natural causes, with no autopsy ordered.

Scalia was appointed to the court in 1986 by President Ronald Reagan and believed in a strict interpretation of the constitution. Throughout his time on the Supreme Court, Scalia consistently fought against abortion and stood up for the constitution. He was the most consistent conservative judge on the court in the last 30 years.

Over the past 30 years, conservatives have seen unconstitutional acts passed in the Supreme Court including the abortion issue and gay marriage issue, which goes against the 10th amendment, which puts the states in charge of issues, not the national government.  

Scalia’s passing has made the 2016 presidential race extremely crucial for both parties. For Republicans, a victory could mean putting in a conservative judge that would uphold our rights and the constitution. For Democrats, a victory would ensure putting in a liberal judge.

Ted Cruz, a Republican candidate running for president, said “We are one justice away from a Supreme Court that would undermine the religious liberty of millions of Americans.”

Obama has the right and responsibility to nominate people to this position. And it is the Senate’s responsibility to vote on that nominee. Whether they approve or disapprove of the nominee, the Senate still needs to vote on the nominee.

President Obama said “I’ve selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as one of America’s sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness, and excellence…Presidents do not stop working in the final year of their term; neither should a senator.”

Obama has fulfilled his job, and now it is time for the Senate to do the same.

Not coming together to vote on Garland would make the party look childish. The Republicans in the Senate are scared to vote on Garland because they know he is more than qualified.

As a Republican, I am very disappointed in the party and how they are acting. Maybe instead of protesting Garland and the candidates for president, they could actually come together to do their job and throw support behind whoever the presidential nominee turns out to be, whether that be Donald Trump or Ted Cruz. If they started supporting these candidates, they might have a shot at winning the election in November which could lead to multiple spots on the Supreme Court that the Republican party could fill.

Scalia’s death leaves a spot needed to be filled, and Obama has fulfilled his constitutional responsibility, and now it is the Senate’s turn as they have the responsibility to show up and vote for or against the nominee.

If the Republican party wants to continue to exist, they must come together to strongly consider Garland whether they approve of him or not, because acting childish over this could be the end of the Republican party as we know it.