Markey to Meet With Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland 

Merrick Garland  (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is planning to meet with President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.

The Massachusetts Democrat will sit down with Garland for an afternoon talk Wednesday in Markey’s Washington office.

Markey has been critical of Senate Republicans for refusing to hold hearings on Garland. GOP lawmakers say the Supreme Court decision should be left to the next president.

Markey said if Senate Republicans refuse to hold a hearing on Garland’s nomination, it will be “an historic failure to do their job.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren met with Garland last month, calling him an impressive candidate who has served his country with distinction and deserves serious consideration from the Senate.

Garland has served as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.