Vermont Business Magazine President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that he will nominate Chief Judge Merrick Garland to be an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States. Garland, 63, has served for nearly 19 years as a Judge on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often referred to as the second highest court in the land, second only to the Supreme Court.
Vice President Biden and President Obama listen as Judge Garland speaks about his nomination at the White House Wednesday. White House photo.
The Senate confirmed him to that position in 1997 by a bipartisan 76-23 vote. Prior to his appointment to the DC Circuit, Chief Judge Garland served in various positions in the United States Department of Justice, under Republican and Democratic presidents, including Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, Assistant US Attorney for the District of Columbia, and Special Assistant to Attorney General Benjamin Civiletti. He also was a litigator in private practice at the law firm Arnold & Porter, LLP. Chief Judge Garland graduated first in his class from Harvard College and received his JD from Harvard Law School. He then clerked for Judge Henry Friendly on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and Justice William Brennan on the Supreme Court of the United States.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent this statement following the nomination: “I congratulate Chief Judge Garland, whose qualifications are impeccable, on his nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States. He is widely admired throughout the legal profession and is one of the most accomplished judges on the federal bench. The President has chosen carefully, and well.
“Chief Judge Garland is undeniably fair-minded and independent, and it is no wonder that he has received praise from across the political spectrum. He should be confirmed without controversy. His extensive service on the bench, as well as his experience leading and supervising the teams prosecuting two of the most notorious domestic terrorism cases in history – the Oklahoma City bombing and the Unabomber case – make Chief Judge Garland immensely and undeniably qualified to serve on the Supreme Court.
“President Obama has carried out his constitutional duty in nominating a superbly qualified nominee to the Supreme Court. I know his decision was the result of thorough and careful consideration. The President also consulted with both Republican and Democratic Senators before making this nomination. Now it is time for the Senate to do its job.
“There is more than enough time for Senators to publicly and thoroughly examine Chief Judge Garland’s qualifications and vote on his confirmation before Memorial Day. For more than 40 years, the Senate has held a confirmation vote on Supreme Court nominees on average 70 days after their formal nomination. The Senate should afford Chief Judge Garland the same process with a fair and public hearing in April, and the full Senate should vote on his confirmation by May 25.
“I intend to meet with Judge Garland very soon, and I expect my fellow Senators will do the same. Next, we will all review his record and prepare for a public hearing. Our constitutional duties as Senators and the traditions of our institution should not be trumped by partisan politics.”
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) said: “Judge Garland is a strong nominee with decades of experience on the bench. My Republican colleagues have called Judge Garland a ‘consensus nominee’ and said that there is ‘no question’ he could be confirmed. Refusing to hold hearings on the president's nominee would be unprecedented. President Obama has done his job. It’s time for Republicans to do theirs. I call on Sen. Grassley to hold confirmation hearings immediately and for Leader McConnell to bring the nomination to floor of the Senate if Judge Garland is approved by the Judiciary Committee."
Congressman Peter Welch (D-Vermont) said: “Merrick Garland is a highly respected and exceptionally qualified jurist. The Senate has an obligation to conduct a fair hearing on his nomination and hold an up or down vote. A failure to do so will undermine the effectiveness of the Supreme Court at a critical juncture in its current term as it considers several important cases.”
Chief Judge Merrick B Garland, White House Background and Bio
Chicago-native Chief Judge Merrick B Garland currently serves as Chief Judge on the US Court of Appeals in DC, a court to which he was confirmed with majority support from both parties in the U.S. Senate in 1997. Now presiding as Chief Judge, Judge Garland has more federal judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in history. Born and raised in Illinois and a devoted family man, Judge Garland has dedicated his life to serving the American people, taking on some of the most difficult anti-terrorism cases in our nation’s history. In the wake of the Oklahoma City bombing, he led the investigation and prosecution that ultimately brought Timothy McVeigh to justice.
Here are some brief facts that give an overview of Chief Judge Garland’s record and credentials:
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Oversaw some of the most important federal criminal cases in recent history, including the prosecutions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols for the Oklahoma City bombing as well as the government’s responses to the Unabomber and the Montana Freemen
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Took steps as a government attorney to ensure proper respect for the rights of criminal defendants, helping develop policies that require prosecutors to conduct an individual assessment of each case when making charging decisions, rather than just charging with the most serious offense possible
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Was confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 1997 with strong bipartisan support from a majority of both parties in the U.S. Senate
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Distinguished himself as a jurist who decides every case based on what the law requires, stating, “The role of the court is to apply the law to the facts of the case before it”
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Known as a meticulous jurist with a skill for building consensus, an approach that has earned him bipartisan support throughout his career.
As a mentor to his law clerks and a tutor to elementary school children, he is a dedicated and compassionate public servant who will conservatives and progressives praise for his rigorous intellect, his respect for the role of the judiciary, and his mastery of the law.
Chief Judge Garland and his wife of nearly 30 years, Lynn, have two daughters, Becky and Jessie. The family enjoys skiing, hiking, and canoeing, and together they have visited many of America’s national parks.
WASHINGTON (Wednesday, March 16, 2016) - The White House