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Whitehouse praises Supreme Court nominee Garland, urges vote

WASHINGTON (AP) - Rhode Island Democratic U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse says Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland is a qualified jurist who should receive a hearing and a vote.

Whitehouse made the comments Wednesday after meeting with Garland on Capitol Hill.

Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin, of Illinois, and Dianne Feinstein (FYN'-styn), of California, also were scheduled to meet with Garland. All three lawmakers are members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Garland is a federal appeals court judge.

Whitehouse says they've known each other since they worked in Democratic President Bill Clinton's administration. He says the meeting reminded him of Garland's "strong judgment, first-rate intellect and good nature."

Democratic President Barack Obama nominated Garland last month. Most Republican senators have refused to meet with him, saying the next president should decide on a nominee to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia (AN'-toh-nihn skuh-LEE'-uh).

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