Final answer:
Merrick Garland was highly respected by senators, proven by his strong confirmation to the DC circuit. However, his Supreme Court nomination was blocked by the Senate's strategy of 'malign neglect', driven by election year politics and the influence of public opinion on senatorial decision-making.
Step-by-step explanation:
Merrick Garland, who was nominated by President Barack Obama for the Supreme Court, held a reputation of high respect among senators from both parties. Despite the high regard in which he was held, reflected in his previous confirmation to the DC circuit by a vote of 76-23 in the Senate, his nomination to the Supreme Court was met with what scholars have termed "malign neglect."
The Senate, led by then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, refused hearings on his nomination, citing the proximity of an election year as their reasoning. This was part of a larger Senate strategy where public opinion can significantly affect a senator's chances at reelection, and as such, senators are sometimes driven to make decisions that are more aligned with the shifting public preferences or to maintain party loyalty, which in this case resulted in the blocking of Garland's nomination.