Because of his position, disposition and bipartisan popularity, Judge Garland has been on Mr. Obama’s shortlist of potential nominees for years. In 2010, when Mr. Obama interviewed him for the slot that he instead gave to Justice Elena Kagan, Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, said publicly that he had urged Mr. Obama to nominate Judge Garland as “a consensus nominee” who would win Senate confirmation.
Obama to Nominate Merrick Garland to Supreme Court – The New York Times
Now the ball is in the Senate’s hands. I’m afraid that the GOP is dysfunctional and contrarian enough not to debate and confirm Mr. Garland, just out of spite. This might get messy, just like the race for the presidency.
CLARITY AND CHAOS 