Kentucky’s McConnell tells Garland he won't be considered

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has told President Barack Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court that the Senate won't consider his nomination.

McConnell spokesman Don Stewart says the Senate's majority leader spoke to nominee Merrick Garland by phone on Wednesday. Stewart says McConnell repeated his long-held position that the Senate won't consider a nominee for the high court until the next president nominates one.

Most Republicans have rallied behind McConnell's opposition to considering any Obama selection. McConnell and many other GOP senators say they wouldn't even meet with a nominee.

“The American people may well elect a president who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. “The next president may also nominate someone very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice in the filling of this vacancy.”

Stewart says McConnell felt it was more considerate of Garland to talk by phone, and not subject him to "more unnecessary political routines orchestrated by the White House."

Stewart says McConnell wished Garland well in the Wednesday afternoon call, which the spokesman says did not last long.

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This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Kentucky’s McConnell tells Garland he won't be considered."