Today the President nominated Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court, of whom he said, "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."

Supreme Court decisions impact every aspect of our lives from birth control, prayer in school, gun violence, voting rights, to campaign financing and the environment. It is unconscionable that the GOP would prevent Justice Scalia's seat to remain vacant for this court term and possibly the next.

Playing politics with the Supreme Court weakens our democracy and violates the basic principles of the Constitution. At JAC, we share the President's strong belief that the GOP "should play it straight and treat the process of appointing a Supreme Court justice with the seriousness and care it deserves."