On Wednesday, President Obama announced that he is nominating D.C. Circuit Judge Merrick Garland to the United States Supreme Court. That is his prerogative. And by all accounts, Judge Garland is a fine man. But the Senate has its own constitutional prerogative, one that it is imperative that it exercise in this profound moment of constitutional controversy.

The president’s announcement comes at a time when our country is at a crossroads. This crossroad is all the more significant because the Supreme Court vacancy at issue is a unique one.