Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn Reacts To Supreme Court Announcement

NewsOn6.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A U.S. Senator from Oklahoma is calling for President Obama to think carefully before making a nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court.

Justice John Paul Stevens has informed President Obama that he will retire at the end of June, when the Court begins its annual recess.

Justice Stevens will turn 90 on April 20th.  A Republican who was appointed to the court by Gerald Ford in 1975, Justice Stevens has become known as one of the Court's most liberal justices.

Senator Tom Coburn, M.D., one of Oklahoma's two Republican senators, released the following statement after hearing the news:

"I hope President Obama's pick will unite rather than divide the country," Dr. Coburn said. "In my view, the nominee should have a demonstrated record of strictly interpreting the Constitution without ideological bias. I would also urge my colleagues to give the committee ample time to review the nominee. Any person nominated to a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court needs to have their record carefully and thoroughly reviewed."