Republican Sen. John Boozman says a meeting with President Barack Obama's U.S. Supreme Court nominee didn't change his opposition to filling the high court vacancy this year.
The Arkansas senator said he met with federal appeals court Judge Merrick Garland Tuesday for about 20 minutes, and remained opposed to moving forward with the nomination before the next president takes office.
Boozman said he told Garland that his opposition to holding hearings or a vote on the nomination is firm. Boozman last week said he believed Garland would be a reliable fifth vote for liberals on the high court.
Boozman was first elected in 2010 and is running for re-election this fall against Democrat Conner Eldridge, a former federal prosecutor who has criticized the Republican lawmaker's stance on the Garland nomination.
