By Jessica Wehrman

Washington Bureau

Sen. Rob Portman says he will back Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

The two met Wednesday in Portman’s office in what the Ohio Republican called “an engaging and productive meeting.”

“I expressed my belief that the job of a Supreme Court justice is to fairly and impartially apply the law, and to protect the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, not to legislate from the bench,” he said. “I believe that is exactly what he will do should he be confirmed to this important position. Judge Gorsuch has an outstanding record as a fair-minded, independent, and universally-respected judge, and, after today’s meeting, I join others in offering him my support.”

Portman previously met with then-President Barack Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court – Merrick Garland – but joined other Republicans in blocking that nomination. Portman argued at the time it would be better to wait until after the presidential election to pick a successor to Justice Antonin Scalia, who died more than a year ago in Texas.

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