When Supreme court justice Antonin Scalia died, rather than a period of mourning, immediate controversy resulted as politicians made this a political moment. Liberal politicians wanted President Barack Obama to be the one to nominate a new justice, while many conservatives thought that the next president should do it.  The reason they want this is because they believe that if the next president is a Republican, he might nominate a conservative judge.If this happens, the court will be more conservative than liberal, creating a 5-4 court.

On March 16, President Obama announced that he was nominating Merrick Garland as the new supreme court justice. And regardless of the fact that it is the obligation of the current president to nominate a new justice, many conservatives wouldn’t even think about accepting the president’s nomination.

Please understand one thing; I am a conservative. I disagree with Obama just as much as the next conservative. However, for the first time ever, I agree with the liberals on this one: President Obama was doing the correct thing when he decided to nominate a new justice to the supreme court.

Do I agree with his nomination? Not completely. But I still understand that Obama is doing what he is supposed to. And to be honest, he could have nominated someone more liberal than Garland. Obama intentionally picked someone who is somewhat moderate, maybe a just little bit to the left. And most importantly, Garland is someone who will decide what the law is, and not what he wants it to be.

I do not completely agree with the president’s nomination. I would much rather have someone more like Scalia, a highly conservative Catholic, on the Supreme Court. But guess what? I also don’t agree with President Obama himself. Just because I don’t agree with his views doesn’t mean I won’t accept him as president.

After Obama’s nomination, many head conservatives said that they would refuse to meet with Garland, and even more said that they would not approve of his nomination. It is completely within their rights to do this, but just because it is within their rights doesn’t make it right. Just because it is within my rights to set my homework on fire (which, trust me, I’ve wanted to do many times before) doesn’t mean I’m going to do it.
For the first time ever, I agree with something that Obama has said. Obama made an earnest plea for conservatives to give Garland a fair hearing. And for the first time ever, I am with the president on this one. I know my voice will probably not be heard by those who are higher up in the government, but I stand with the President and I plead with you Congress, please give Merrick Garland a chance.