Majority of Americans Want US Senate Hearings on Obama Supreme Court Pick

Well over half of US citizens say Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s pick to fill a vacant seat at the US Supreme Court seat, is entitled to a hearing by the Senate and half of those surveyed believe the Senate should ultimately confirm him, according to a CNN/ORC poll released on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Senate thus far has refused to hold hearings on Garland or any other nominee submitted by Obama, saying the next president should fill the high-court vacancy.

Overall, 64 percent of those surveyed believe Garland should be given confirmation hearings in the Senate Judiciary Committee, the poll explained.

Breaking down the pro-hearings bloc by political affiliation, those favoring hearings include 55 percent of Republicans surveyed, 67 percent of Democrats and 68 percent of independent voters, the poll revealed.

Many Democrats view Republican unwillingness to consider the Garland nomination as a political gift that could help Democrats regain control of the Senate in November’s election.