President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill the Supreme Court vacancy after Justice Scalia’s death.

Garland, chief judge of the United State Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia, said being nominated was “the greatest moment of my life.”

President Obama called Garland “one of America’s sharpest legal minds” and deserved having a full hearing and a senate confirmation.

While Republican leaders have publicly announced that the new justice should be picked by the next President of the United States, President Obama urges Congress to follow the law and give his nominee a fair chance.