Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL-7) released the following statement to call on the Senate Republicans to follow the Constitution and give the President’s Supreme Court nomination full and fair consideration:

“I urge the Senate Republicans to consider the President’s nominee for the Supreme Court.  The Constitution clearly states that the President has the power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to nominate a successor for open seats in the Supreme Court.  Justice and democracy are at stake and there is no time for this kind of partisan divisiveness.  At stake is not only the Supreme Court but there are highly qualified nominees for federal, district and appellate courts that the Senate should act upon as well.  On February 11, 2016, President Obama nominated Judge Abdul K. Kallon of Birmingham, AL to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.  Judge Kallon is a highly qualified jurist whose integrity, brilliance and judicial temperament has earned him the praise and respect of his colleagues and members of the Alabama bar.  The Senate should do their duty and consider all qualified nominees.   

“It is a low day in a democratic society when government leaders ignore their duty and the Constitution for partisan agendas.  This is not American.  The President of the United States of America intends to do his job and fulfill his duty to nominate a replacement for the Supreme Court vacancy and America expects the Senate Republicans to do their job. 

“If the average American worker isn’t excused from doing their job just because they don’t feel like it, why do Senate Republicans think they should be excused? The bottom-line is this; they are not excused. The Constitution of the United States of America can never be ignored for purposes of political preference.”     

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