washington senator mark kirk illinois tuesday accuse many fellow senate republicans closed-minded refuse consider president barack obama nomination merrick garland serve u.s. supreme court kirk face tough re-election battle democratic-leaning state become first republican senator meet garland since obama nominate centrist appellate judge former prosecutor march 16 replace conservative justice antonin scalia die feb. 13. need open-minded rational responsible people ensure confirmation process work kirk tell reporters private meet garland already meet senate democrats 100-member senate 54 republicans back senate majority leader mitch mcconnell hard-line stance confirm obama nominee even meet garland think say go meet closed-minded add kirk first-term senator may one endanger senate republicans nov. elections maine susan collins also take fellow senate republicans task block garland confirmation process collins tell wgan radio whether republicans like obama president inauguration day next january collins say seem basis senators refuse even consider garland mcconnell say senate leave obama successor take office next january november elections fill vacancy dozen senate republicans indicate willingness least meet garland last week kansas republican senator jerry moran also run re-election assail conservative group urge confirmation process proceed even though make clear would vote garland meet senators standard part confirmation process allow lawmakers get acquaint nominees lifetime position supreme court republicans fear garland could move court leave first time decades white house say court split 4-4 rule important labor case tuesday underscore need confirm scalia replacement supreme court fully staff make likely situations arise across country different rule different circuit court resolve supreme court spokesman josh earnest tell reporters aboard air force one obama fly atlanta senator kirk criticize fellow republicans garland boycott