National

Illinois GOP senator to meet with Supreme Court nominee

By Kim Geiger

Chicago Tribune
Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk will meet Tuesday with Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Here, Garland arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 23, 2016, for a meeting with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which considers judicial nominations.
Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk will meet Tuesday with Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s choice to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. Here, Garland arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 23, 2016, for a meeting with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee which considers judicial nominations. J. Scott Applewhite AP
CHICAGO

Illinois Republican Sen. Mark Kirk will meet Tuesday with President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee as GOP Senate leaders refuse to hold confirmation hearings to consider the nominee.

The meeting, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times and confirmed by Kirk’s office, follows remarks by Kirk last week that the GOP-controlled Senate should “man up” and have an up-or-down vote on the nominee, Merrick Garland.

Garland is Obama’s choice to succeed Justice Antonin Scalia, a leading conservative voice on the court who died last month.

Kirk is facing a tough re-election fight in November. He’s being challenged by Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth.

In calling for a confirmation vote, Kirk said last week that the Constitution states that it is the president’s role to nominate and the Senate’s job to advise and consent. He expressed interest in meeting with Garland to discuss the nominee’s views on the Constitution.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has argued that the selection of a new Supreme Court justice should be left to Obama’s successor.

Garland, 63, is the chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

This story was originally published March 25, 2016 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Illinois GOP senator to meet with Supreme Court nominee."

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