Ron Johnson to meet later this month with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

Bill Glauber | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson will meet later this month with U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh, a federal appeals court judge, was picked by President Donald Trump to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Wisconsin's other U.S. Senator, Democrat Tammy Baldwin, has said she will vote against Kavanaugh's confirmation.

A confirmation battle is shaping up as Republicans try to get Kavanaugh on the court before the midterm elections.

Johnson's meeting was originally planned for Thursday but was later moved to later in the month when the Senate returns from a weeklong recess. Johnson has been complimentary of Kavanaugh but has not yet committed to voting for him.

Shortly after Trump announced his nominee, Johnson said Kavanaugh's adherence to interpreting the text of the law "describes the thought process of someone who will be a judge, not a super legislator, not an activist jurist."

Johnson voted to confirm Trump's first pick for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch, who replaced the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Johnson met with President Barack Obama's nominee to fill the Scalia seat, Merrick Garland, but sided with other Republicans to block confirmation.

Johnson voted to confirm 26 of 39 circuit court judges nominated by Obama.