ms. aron: two things. it's just been amazing how overwhelming the response has been from across the country, most of who have never gotten in alt in weighing in on judicial nominations who feel so strongly that the senate ought to give the nominee a hearing and a vote. i think what we've already seen as an overwhelmed response. the next two weeks will be critical. when senators are back home, there listening to constituents. i expect that they will hear democrats and republicans from thousands of their constituents about the critical importance of treating this nominee fairly. advocates will be speaking with their senators, asking them to give merrick garland a hearing, a vote, and treat him fairly throughout the process. i expect these weeks to be very important in terms of constituents communicating with their senators. >> the senate majority leader is known as stubborn. he's made it clear he doesn't see any hearings this year for merrick garland this year at least through the election. can

ms. aron: i think merrick garland is really a stellar nominee. i think he should be confirmed. i think he will be a wonderful addition to the supreme court. i think he should be confirmed this year and then with the upcoming vacancies, which we assume will occur, after all, three of the justices will be in their 80's 2018, which means the next president might have the opportunity to name several more supreme court justices. should confirm merrick garland this year and see what happens in the future. shortlistnames on the , jane kelly, paul watford, all are stellar nominees and i hope they take their place on the court one day as well. bernie sanders says he has a litmus test for nominees. they have to be willing to overall citizens -- overrule citizens united. indicatedinton also that the decision has to go. are you at all this comforted by the idea of presidential candidates laying out specific rulings they expect their nominees to make. we have taken issue with the use of litmus tests since

ms. aron good morning and thanks for having me. over 100association of advocacy groups. since the early 1980's, the alliance has had a project that reviewed every district court, supreme court nominee. and helped with the confirmation of hundreds of judges. we intend to be incredibly active this year as we have been for the past 30 years. in terms of working as hard as we can to help secure the confirmation of merrick garland. as well as the confirmation of many of the other lower court nominees who have been waiting for a long time for a confirmation vote. >> how important will this -- we are going into a congressional recess where all the senators are back home and how important will the next two weeks the and in trying to sway central republican senators about having a hearing or moving forward? ms. aron: two things. it's just been amazing how overwhelming the response has been from across the country from people most of who have never gotten involved in weighing in on judicial nominations