Statement on President Obama’s Selection of the Honorable Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court By Melanie L. Campbell, Convener of Black Women’s Roundtable
Washington, DC – We are pleased that President Obama has fulfilled his Constitutional responsibility by nominating The Honorable Merrick Brian Garland as his choice to fill vacancy left by the untimely passing of the late Justice Antonin Scalia. We believe that Judge Garland is eminently qualified and has served the judiciary with honor and distinction.
Judge Garland is the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He has served on that court since 1997.
As head of the NCBCP and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, we are disappointed and had hoped that an African-American woman would be nominated. We have and will continue to advocate for the next Supreme Court vacancy to be filled by an exceptional black woman to bring about a balance that ensures the court is more representative of all Americans.
We continue to believe it is time for African American women to be represented in all sectors of government—including the U. S. Supreme Court of the United States, which in its 227 year history has not had a Black woman nominated to serve on the highest court in the land.
We support President Obama’s nomination. We strongly urge the U. Senate to live up to its constitutional responsibility and grant Judge Garland a fair committee hearing and an up or down vote in the full Senate.
The National Coalition, founded in 1976, creates and enlightens communities by building institutional capacity that provides and develops leadership. By educating, motivating, organizing, and mobilizing Black communities, the National Coalition seeks to encourage full participation in a barrier-free democratic process. The National Coalition works to expand, strengthen, and empower communities to make voting and civic participation a cultural responsibility and tradition. The Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR) serves as the women and girls empowerment arm of The National Coalition. BWR promotes health and wellness, economic security and sustainability, education and global empowerment.
For more information go to www.ncbcp.org.
Follow the National Coalition on Twitter or on Facebook
