SCOTUS nominee gives commencement address at West Niles High School

CHICAGO (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland has delivered the commencement address at the Chicago-area high school where he graduated 46 years ago as class valedictorian.

Garland stayed away from addressing the partisan divide over his nomination during his 15-minute speech Sunday to the 2016 Niles West High School graduates.

The federal appeals court judge in Washington, D.C., instead spoke instead about the values he learned at the Skokie school and encouraged graduates to consider going into public service.

President Barack Obama nominated Garland in March to fill the late Antonin Scalia’s seat. But Republicans in Congress have vowed not to hold hearings or a confirmation vote until a new president takes office.

 

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