Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland meets with Sen. Durbin

WASHINGTON – Sen. Dick Durbin met with Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland on Wednesday morning, and urged the Senate Republican leaders to lift their blockade over his appointment.

Garland, a Chicago native raised in Lincolnwood who graduated from Niles West High School in Skokie, met with Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill. last week.

President Barack Obama hits Chicago on Thursday to appear at a town hall style event at the University of Chicago to discuss the importance of filling the court vacancy – keeping pressure on Republicans to let the Garland nomination advance to a confirmation hearing and a vote.

Developing.