Mark Kirk becomes first Republican senator to meet with Merrick Garland

On Tuesday, Mark Kirk became the first Republican senator to meet with Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.

The senator from Illinois called Garland a "brilliant" legal mind, and said he was "one of the most eminent jurists in the country." The Republicans who are blocking the nomination until after the presidential election and won't meet with Garland are "too closed-minded," Kirk said, and "by leading by example, I'm showing what a rational, responsible guy would do that really wants the constitutional process to go forward."

Kirk is up for reelection, and an anonymous GOP strategist told Politico that meeting with Garland gave Kirk the "perfect opportunity" to "illustrate his independent brand" as he goes up against challenger Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D). In a statement, Duckworth's campaign said Kirk "seems to expect extra credit for doing the bare minimum — in this case, his job."

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