DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement marking 100 days since Chief Judge Merrick Garland was nominated to serve on the Supreme Court:

Today marks 100 days since President Obama nominated the most qualified candidate to immediately serve on the Supreme Court —one with more federal judicial experience than any other nominee in history. President Obama has fulfilled his constitutional responsibility, yet Senate Republicans are still refusing to do their job and hold a hearing and vote on Chief Judge Merrick Garland’s nomination.

The GOP’s refusal to fill this critical vacancy on the court led to yesterday’s 4-4 deadlocked decision on President Obama’s much needed executive actions on immigration, known as DAPA. Because Republicans remain committed to obstructing Chief Judge Garland’s nomination, our highest court was unable to reach a consensus. This obstruction is what the Republican vision of smaller government looks like: a government so small and dysfunctional that the Republican-led Senate can force an entire branch of our federal government, which is supposed to be separate and equal, to deadlock on a critical ruling that affects millions. 

Poll after poll shows that Americans overwhelmingly agree that the Senate should do its job and fill this seat so that the court can function fully. Yet Senate Republicans have decided to wait for Donald Trump to pick the next nominee to our nation’s highest court—allowing a dangerous and divisive candidate to make the call.