Merrick Garland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Merrick Garland
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Official portrait, 2021
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| 86th United States Attorney General | |
| In office March 11, 2021 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Deputy | Lisa Monaco |
| Preceded by | William Barr |
| Succeeded by | James McHenry (acting) |
| Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| In office February 12, 2013 – February 11, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | David B. Sentelle |
| Succeeded by | Sri Srinivasan |
| Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit | |
| In office March 20, 1997 – March 11, 2021 |
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| Appointed by | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Abner Mikva |
| Succeeded by | Ketanji Brown Jackson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Merrick Brian Garland
November 13, 1952 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Spouse |
Lynn Rosenman
(m. 1987) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
| Awards | Henry J. Friendly Medal (2022) |
| Signature |  |
Merrick Brian Garland (born November 13, 1952) is an American lawyer and judge. He served as the 86th United States attorney general from 2021 to 2025. The Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer and lawyer for the U.S. government.
Before this role, he was a circuit judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1997 to 2021. This court is very important because it handles many cases involving the U.S. government. In 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court. However, the U.S. Senate did not hold a vote to confirm him.
Garland grew up in the Chicago area. He went to Harvard University and Harvard Law School. After law school, he worked as a law clerk for important judges. He also worked as a federal prosecutor, where he helped lead the investigation into the Oklahoma City bombing. President Bill Clinton appointed him to the D.C. Circuit Court in 1997. He became the chief judge of that court in 2013.
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Early Life and Education
Merrick Brian Garland was born on November 13, 1952, in Chicago. He grew up in Lincolnwood, a suburb north of Chicago. His mother was a director of volunteer services for an elderly care organization. His father ran a small advertising business from their home.
Garland's grandparents came to the U.S. in the early 1900s. They were fleeing difficult times in Eastern Europe. Two of his grandmother's siblings later died in the Holocaust.
He went to Niles West High School in Skokie. There, he was president of the student council and a member of the debate team. He graduated in 1970 as the top student in his class.
After high school, Garland studied social studies at Harvard University. He first thought about becoming a doctor but decided to become a lawyer instead. He wrote for the Harvard Crimson newspaper. In 1974, he graduated from Harvard with high honors.
Garland then attended Harvard Law School. He was a member of the Harvard Law Review, a student-run legal journal. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1977 with high honors.
Early Career in Law
After law school, Garland worked for two important judges. First, he was a law clerk for Judge Henry Friendly in New York. Then, he worked for Justice William J. Brennan Jr. on the U.S. Supreme Court.
After his clerkships, Garland worked for two years as a special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General. In 1981, he joined a private law firm called Arnold & Porter. He mostly worked on cases for businesses.
From 1985 to 1986, Garland also taught antitrust law at Harvard Law School. In 1989, he decided to return to public service. He became an assistant United States attorney in Washington, D.C.
In 1993, Garland joined the Clinton administration. He worked in the United States Department of Justice. He helped supervise important cases, including those involving domestic terrorism.
Federal Judge Service (1997–2021)
On September 6, 1995, President Bill Clinton nominated Garland to be a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. This court is often called the D.C. Circuit. It is considered the second most important court in the U.S. after the Supreme Court.
The American Bar Association, a group of lawyers, gave Garland its highest rating. However, the Senate did not vote on his nomination at that time. This was due to a disagreement about filling the court seat.
After Clinton won re-election, he nominated Garland again in January 1997. The Senate confirmed him on March 19, 1997, by a vote of 76 to 23. Most Republican senators voted to confirm him. He officially became a judge on March 20, 1997.
Chief Judge Role
Garland became the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit on February 12, 2013. As chief judge, he made sure the court's public audio recordings of arguments were available the same day. His seven-year term as chief judge ended on February 11, 2020. He continued to serve as an active judge until he retired.
Retirement from Judgeship
Garland retired from his role as a federal judge on March 11, 2021. He did this to accept his new appointment as the Attorney General of the United States.
Supreme Court Nomination
Garland was considered for a seat on the Supreme Court of the United States twice before 2016. These times were in 2009 and 2010. In 2016, President Barack Obama nominated him for the seat left open by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
Earlier Considerations
In 2009, Justice David Souter announced he would retire. Garland was one of nine people considered for the job. The position eventually went to Sonia Sotomayor.
In 2010, Justice John Paul Stevens announced his retirement. Garland was again seen as a top choice for the Supreme Court. President Obama interviewed him for the opening. Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican, even said he would support Garland. He called Garland a "consensus nominee." However, Obama nominated Elena Kagan, who was confirmed.
Scalia Vacancy and 2016 Nomination
Justice Antonin Scalia died on February 13, 2016. Soon after, Senate Republicans, led by Mitch McConnell, said they would not consider any nominee from President Obama. They believed the next president should choose the new justice. President Obama disagreed, saying it was his duty to appoint a judge.
In March 2016, news reports said Garland was being considered. He was one of three judges on the President's "short list." On March 16, Obama officially nominated Garland to the Supreme Court.
Garland had more experience as a federal judge than any other Supreme Court nominee in history. The American Bar Association gave him its highest rating.
However, the Republican majority in the Senate refused to consider Garland's nomination. They held "no hearings, no votes, no action whatsoever." This refusal was very unusual and controversial. Many experts called it an "unprecedented" move.
Garland's nomination lasted 293 days, which was the longest time for a Supreme Court nominee in history. His nomination ended on January 3, 2017, when the Congress session ended. Later, President Donald Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch to the vacant seat, and the Senate confirmed him.
Senator McConnell later said that stopping Garland's nomination was "the most consequential decision I've made in my entire public career."
Attorney General (2021–2025)
President-elect Joe Biden chose Garland to be the United States attorney general. This news came on January 6, 2021. Biden formally nominated him after becoming president.
During his confirmation hearings, Garland promised to strongly prosecute those who attacked the U.S. Capitol. He also said he would focus on other domestic extremists. He drew on his experience prosecuting the people responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing.
Garland also said the Biden administration would likely pause the use of the federal death penalty. He expressed concerns about how the death penalty is applied. He promised to protect equal justice under law and strengthen the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. The Senate confirmed Garland's nomination by a vote of 70 to 30. He was sworn in on March 11, 2021.
In April 2021, Russia placed sanctions on Garland. This meant he was not allowed to enter Russia. This was in response to U.S. actions against Russia.
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In July 2021, Garland put a pause on all federal executions. This was done to review the policies and procedures for executions. This decision was in line with President Biden's promise to work towards ending the federal death penalty.
Voting Rights Protection
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In June 2021, Garland promised to double the Justice Department's staff. This staff helps protect the right to vote. This was in response to efforts by some states to make voting harder.
The same month, Garland announced a lawsuit against the state of Georgia. The lawsuit said Georgia's new voting restrictions unfairly targeted Black Americans. This was seen as a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
In July 2021, the Justice Department reminded states to follow federal election and civil rights laws. In November 2021, the DOJ sued Texas over a new law. This law required mail ballots to be rejected for small mistakes. The DOJ said it would make voting harder for people with limited English skills and soldiers overseas.
In another lawsuit, the DOJ said Texas's new voting district maps were unfair. They claimed the maps discriminated against Latino and Black voters.
Civil Rights Focus
During Garland's time as Attorney General, the Justice Department focused on protecting civil rights. Garland changed a previous policy that limited investigations into police misconduct. He also allowed the use of agreements to help police departments improve.
On April 21, 2021, Garland announced an investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department. This happened after a former officer was convicted for the murder of George Floyd. The investigation looked at how officers use force and if they act in a discriminatory way.
On April 26, Garland announced another investigation. This one was into the Louisville Metro Police Department after the killing of Breonna Taylor. Other investigations were opened into the police departments in Phoenix and Mount Vernon.
In June 2021, the Justice Department changed a policy. It now requires federal officers to use body-worn cameras in certain situations. This includes when making planned arrests or carrying out search warrants.
In September 2021, the DOJ limited the use of chokeholds by federal officers. These tactics are now only allowed if deadly force is necessary. The memo also limited "no-knock" entries when executing warrants. Officers must now usually knock and announce their presence.
January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack
On July 26, 2021, the Justice Department told former Trump administration officials they could testify. This was about Trump's efforts to change the 2020 election results and the 2021 United States Capitol attack. The DOJ said they were free to share information.
In November 2022, Garland appointed Jack Smith as a special counsel. This was to oversee investigations related to former President Donald Trump.
Personal Life
Garland and his wife, Lynn, were married in September 1987. Lynn's grandfather was a justice and a special counsel to presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. Lynn advises groups on voting system security. The couple lives in Bethesda, Maryland.
Garland and his wife have two daughters, Rebecca and Jessica. Both daughters graduated from Yale University. One of his daughters, Jessica, was hired to be a law clerk for Justice Elena Kagan on the Supreme Court. However, she will not serve in that role while her father is Attorney General.
In 2016, Garland's net worth was estimated to be between $6 million and $23 million. He is red-green colorblind. He is also a Reform Jew.
See also
- Barack Obama Supreme Court candidates
- List of nominations to the Supreme Court of the United States
