merrick garland was nominated in march of 2016. mitch mcconnell blocked his nomination, saying a justice should be chosen by the next president.

given that it's july of 2020 —@senatemajldr, will you commit to leaving any justice’s seat vacant until after november?  qt @costareports after reading my latest post report, @hughhewitt tells his radio audience this morning that he hears from several leading conservatives that justice alito, 70, is considering retirement, and adds that he also hears the alito family is ready to leave washington, d.c.