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Obama to pay respects at court, won’t attend Scalia funeral

The flag flies at half-staff outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia over the weekend.
The flag flies at half-staff outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia over the weekend. AP Photo/Susan Walsh

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama will visit the Supreme Court Friday to pay their respects as Justice Antonin Scalia lies in repose but won’t attend Scalia’s funeral.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Wednesday that Vice-President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden will attend the funeral on Saturday at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington.

READ MORE: Scalia’s death quickly fuels debate over timing of his replacement on US Supreme Court

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Scalia died on Saturday at age 79. He joined the court in 1986 and was its longest-serving justice.

Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who died in 2005, was the last member of the high court to lie in repose.

Obama has said he will nominate a replacement for Scalia with “plenty of time” for the Senate to act.

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