He may not be getting a hearing or a confirmation vote, but Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland is headed to Capitol Hill Thursday for a round of private meetings with senators that have traditionally kicked off consideration of a high court nomination.
Garland isn’t meeting with any Republicans, who control the majority and are blocking his consideration.
Garland’s first stop will be at the office of Sen. Patrick Leahy, of Vermont. Leahy is the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which under typical circumstances would be responsible for vetting the nominee. Garland will then meet with Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at 4 p.m.
According to the White House, Garland will meet with some Republican senators after the recess, including Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, who said Wednesday he will not hold a confirmation hearing for Garland.
A few others have indicated they would also meet with the nominee.
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Garland talked by phone on Wednesday afternoon. McConnell, R-Ky., told Garland a personal meeting would be “perfunctory” because the Senate would not be taking up a Supreme Court nomination until a new president is sworn into office in 2017.
