Subject: Today from the Constitutional Responsibility Project
From: Natalie Raps <[email-masked]>
To: Natalie Raps <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 16 May 2016 22:37:15 +0000

Today in the fight for a full and functioning Supreme Court: The Des Moines Register observes that Sen. Chuck Grassley's Supreme Court obstruction is jeopardizing his legacy, President Obama calls on Senate Republicans to fill the Supreme Court vacancy in light of Donald Trump becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Chief Judge Garland reflects on his lifetime of public service and, today's Supreme Court decisions showcase the need for a fully functional, nine person bench.

Tomorrow, #WeNeedNine will host a press conference at Capitol Visitor Center - SVC 202, with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, Lily Eskelsen García, President of the National Education Association, Elizabeth A. Davis, President Washington Teachers Union, and Jim Leonard, U.S. government teacher at Wilson High School in DC to mark the 62 anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education ruling. They will demand Senate Republicans move forward with hearings and an up-or-down vote on Chief Judge Merrick Garland's nomination to the Supreme Court.  To RSVP for this event, please email Natalie Raps at [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>.

Editorial: Grassley's court maneuver threatens his legacy, reputation.

The editorial board of the Des Moines Register<http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2016/05/15/editorial-grassleys-court-maneuver-threatens-his-legacy-reputation/84306270/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=> writes:

"After 57 years in elected office and countless legislative accomplishments at both the state and federal level, Grassley seems destined to be remembered largely for this single, petulant act of politically motivated obstructionism... Over the course of six terms in the U.S. Senate, three terms in the U.S. House, and 16 years in the Iowa Legislature, Grassley cultivated a reputation for being a fair-minded, hard-working, bipartisan lawmaker. That well-deserved reputation is now badly damaged - perhaps irretrievably so."

President Obama: Trump candidacy a key reason to confirm Garland now

Today, President Obama weighed in on Donald Trump becoming the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, saying it should incentivize Senate Republicans to confirm Chief Judge Garland now. In a live interview with Chris Geidner, Buzzfeed<https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/obama-supreme-court-nominee-interview?utm_term=.poNw0VvGj#.ab8zvK70P> reports:

"The GOP is 'looking at a Republican nominee' - Donald Trump - 'who many of them say isn't qualified to be president much less appoint someone' to the Supreme Court.... But now, 'it seems to me [Republicans would] be better off going ahead and giving a hearing and a vote to somebody that they themselves in the past have said is well-qualified, is fair, and to treat the Supreme Court with the seriousness and the sense that it's beyond politics, that it deserves,' Obama said. 'Precisely because this election year has been so crazy, precisely because you have a number of Republicans who have said that they're concerned about their nominee, it shows you why you don't want to politicize a Supreme Court appointment.'"

Supreme Court punts on major case, showing the importance of a full and functioning high court.

In a memo, People for the American Way<http://blog.pfaw.org/content/supreme-court-punts-zubik-case-and-shows-again-crucial-importance-fully-staffed-supreme-cour> notes that the Supreme Court's decision to send Zubik v. Burwell-a major case concerning the Affordable Care Act-back to the lower courts highlights the crucial importance of a fully functioning Supreme Court.

"The Supreme Court issued a brief unsigned opinion today in the Zubik case, and vacated all the conflicting opinions...The result is to punt the issue away until the Court again has nine justices...While both sides can therefore claim some temporary victory from the Court's ruling, the clear loser is our American justice system."

Chief Judge Garland: the committed tutor.

Teacher Charlene Wilburn reflects on the 18 years Chief Judge Garland spent tutoring students at J.O. Wilson Elementary. Watch the video HERE<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wSS4He6x7A>.

Charlene Wilburn, teacher at J.O. Wilson Elementary: "The fact that he would continue to come with his busy schedule and his big job to take the time to work with children, it just really touches my heart-and I really think it speaks to him, what kind of person he is. For him to be a judge for the Supreme Court is perfect."

Senate Republicans can learn something from New Hampshire.

Former New Hampshire state representative and senator Debora B. Pignatelli writes in the New Hampshire Business Review<http://www.nhbr.com/May-13-2016/What-Washington-can-learn-from-New-Hampshire/> that the Senate GOP should take a lesson from a NH state law that requires all state judicial nominees to receive a public hearing.

Former New Hampshire state representative and senator Debora B. Pignatelli: "When I was a New Hampshire state senator, my colleagues, both Republican and Democratic, enacted a bill I co-sponsored that required all state judicial nominees receive a public hearing. It has served our state well...Instead of continuing to obstruct, the Senate Republican leadership should give Chief Judge Garland a hearing and a vote... Our belonging to a political party didn't make any difference. We did our jobs. The hearings were important to ensure the public had the opportunity to vet a nominee's qualifications and record. There were no political shenanigans."

A look ahead at a sampling of activity by our grassroots allies and Democratic Senators:

TUESDAY 5/17/16

Event: Senator Cardin, Education Leaders Demand Senate GOP Move Forward on Filling Supreme Court Vacancy

Additional Information: On the 62 Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education, Sen. Cardin, Education Experts Discuss the Importance of Restoring the Supreme Court to Nine Justices

Location CHANGE: United States Capitol, Capitol Visitor Center - SVC 202

Time: 10AM local time

Key briefers/speakers: U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, Lily Eskelsen García, President of the National Education Association, Elizabeth A. Davis, President Washington Teachers Union, Jim Leonard, US Government teacher at Wilson High School in DC

Press Contact: For media interested in attending the event, please email Natalie Raps, [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>

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