The ABA has released its evaluation of Chief Judge Merrick Garland’s qualifications for the Supreme Court, and – surprise! – he earned their highest possible rating:  Every member of the evaluation committee that combed through his record and talked to practitioners around the country agreed: Judge Garland is well qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.

This isn’t a surprise.  We’ve known all along how incredibly well qualified he is.  But the ABA has put online a very detailed explanation of how they reached their conclusion.  For anyone who doubts that this is an excellent nomination, this ABA report is must-reading.

Integrity is essential in any judge, especially on the Supreme Court.  Not surprisingly, the committee heard amazing things about Judge Garland’s integrity.  Some sample quotes from the people the committee reached out to:

• “Garland’s integrity is off the scales.”

• “I do not know a finer person than Judge Garland. He is very solid, has the utmost integrity, and is a totally scrupulous, kind and generous person. It is hard to find a nicer person.”

As for his professional competence, the ABA panel was clearly extremely impressed.  Here is how they summarized what they heard from those who know best:

The unanimous consensus of everyone we interviewed was that Judge Garland is superbly competent to serve on the United States Supreme Court. This significant point warrants repeating:  all of the experienced, dedicated, and knowledgeable sitting judges, several former solicitor generals from both political parties, legal scholars from top law schools across the country, and lawyers who have worked with or against the nominee in private practice, government or within the judiciary describe the nominee as outstanding in all respects and cite specific evidence in support of that view.

When you read that paragraph, you can almost hear the ABA members saying “Wow!”

Regardless of judicial or political ideology, everyone wholeheartedly agrees that Judge Garland is supremely well qualified.

Unfortunately, there is one holdout group that is putting politics about all else: Senate Republicans, who still refuse to even hold a confirmation hearing for the nominee.

So while the ABA gives Judge Garland its highest possible rating, Senate Republicans are giving him the finger.  And it’s the American people who lose.