More than two years before the historic PASPA decision, the sudden death of a storied U.S. Supreme Court chief justice profoundly altered the course of partisan battles on federal judicial appointments across the US.
The 2016 passing of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Antonin Scalia led to a bitter dispute in the nation’s capitol, as then Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell effectively blocked the nomination of Merrick Garland, an appellate judge selected by the White House to fill the void. Garland’s nomination stood dormant for 293 days, the longest in US history, paving the way for US President Donald Trump to appoint Neil Gorsuch the following January.
After Tuesday’s “Blue Sweep” in both chambers of Congress, Senate Democrats appear reticent to wash the bitter taste of the Garland controversy. Oddly enough, the resumption of vicious political blood sport regarding potential replacements of two longtime justices could have lasting implications on the legality of sports event contracts in the US.
