Senate Democrats’ Public Meeting to Discuss the Qualifications of Chief Judge Merrick Garland

While Senate Republicans continue their unprecedented obstruction of granting Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland a hearing and a vote, on Wednesday, May 18th, 2016 at 11:30am in Dirksen 562, Senate Democrats will hold a public meeting to hear from speakers who know Judge Garland personally and can speak to his lengthy public service career. During this public meeting, Senators will ask the invited speakers about Judge Garland’s qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court and his record as a prosecutor, mentor, and judge.

The speakers at this public hearing include:

Donna Bucella. Former prosecutor in the Oklahoma City bombing case and current President of Compliance for Guidepost Solutions. She recently joined with other prosecutors on a letter in support of Chief Judge Garland’s nomination.

Justin Driver. Former law clerk to Chief Judge Garland and current University of Chicago Law School Professor of Law. Driver has spoken publicly about his time clerking for Chief Judge Garland and joined with former clerks in a letter of support for his nomination.

Rodney Slater. Former Secretary of Transportation and current Partner at Squire Patton Boggs. He previously served as the first African American Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration. Slater joined with civil rights leaders in support of Chief Judge Garland’s nomination.

Judge Timothy K. Lewis. Former Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and current Partner at Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis in Pittsburgh. He was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 and served for seven years on the appellate court. Judge Lewis previously testified in support of Justice Samuel Alito’s confirmation for the U.S. Supreme Court.