McConnell Blocks Merrick Garland Nomination for 293 Days, Citing Election Year

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced on February 13, 2016, within hours of Justice Antonin Scalia's death, that the Senate would not consider any Obama Supreme Court nominee, citing an invented "Thurmond Rule" and the principle that election-year vacancies should be filled by the next president. President Obama nominated Chief Judge Merrick Garland of the DC Circuit on March 16, 2016; McConnell refused to hold hearings or a vote, leaving the seat vacant for 293 days until after the November election.