Supreme Court nominee to submit questionnaire to lawmakers

[May 10, 2016]  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, will submit a filled-out questionnaire and other information to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to spur a vote on his nomination, the White House said.

Supreme Court nominee Judge Merrick Garland walks after a breakfast with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on Capitol Hill Washington, April 12, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

"The questionnaire and associated materials present an exhaustive picture of Judge Garland's distinguished career and impeccable credentials as a nominee to the Supreme Court," White House spokeswoman Brandi Hoffine said in an emailed statement on Monday.

Republican Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has refused to hold hearings on Garland's nomination. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has refused to act on Obama's pick, saying whoever wins the Nov. 8 presidential election should choose a nominee to replace conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February.

The White House declined to release Garland's questionnaire on Monday. It repeated its call for the Senate to hold a hearing on his nomination once lawmakers had reviewed the new information.

"Every nominee since 1875 who wasn't withdrawn from consideration has received a hearing and/or a vote," Hoffine said. "With more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history and a long record of public service, we expect the Senate will give Chief Judge Garland the same fair consideration as prior nominees."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Richard Chang)

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