Chicago

Kirk to Meet With Obama's Supreme Court Nominee

Mark Kirk's office told Ward Room the Illinois senator will meet with Merrick Garland Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Illinois Sen. Mark Kirk will meet with President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland Tuesday, Kirk's office confirmed.

This comes in the wake of Kirk telling GOP leaders to “man up and cast a vote” on Garland last week.

"We should go through the process the Constitution has already laid out," Kirk said. "The president has already laid out a nominee who is from Chicagoland and for me, I'm open to see him, to talk to him, and ask him his views on the Constitution."

Kirk’s office told Ward Room he will meet with Garland Tuesday at the senator's Washington D.C. office.

Republican lawmakers continue their push to block Obama's nomination until a new president takes office next year. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called Garland last week to inform him that the Senate would not move forward with the confirmation process.

Although 15 Senate Republicans are reportedly open to meeting with Garland, only Kirk and two others have called for confirmation hearings.

Obama nominated Garland at a ceremony at the White House's Rose Garden earlier this month. Garland serves as the Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and is considered a centrist. He is an Illinois native, born in Chicago. 

Kirk defeated Oswego businessman James Marter in the March 15 Republican primary for his U.S. Senate seat. He will face Rep. Tammy Duckworth in the Nov. 8 general election.

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