Vice President Joe Biden on Thursday will urge the Senate to act on Merrick Garland’s Supreme Court nomination in a timely manner.
Biden’s remarks to Georgetown Law School students and faculty mark a high profile attempt to pressure the Senate into confirming a replacement for Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in February. He will argue that President Barack Obama has “has fully discharged his constitutional obligation” in nominating Garland during an election year, according to remarks released by the Vice President’s office.
“Our democracy rests on the twin pillars of basic fairness and equal justice under law,” Biden will say. “The longer this high court vacancy remains unfilled, the more serious a problem we will face.”
He is scheduled speak at 12:30pm EST. Watch the full remarks live on this page.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Donald Trump Is TIME's 2024 Person of the Year
- Why We Chose Trump as Person of the Year
- Is Intermittent Fasting Good or Bad for You?
- The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024
- The 20 Best Christmas TV Episodes
- Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope
- The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy
- Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision
Write to Julia Zorthian at julia.zorthian@time.com