Merrick Garland Fast Facts
Here’s a look at the life of Attorney General Merrick Garland, former chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, and one time Supreme Court nominee.
Personal
Birth date: November 13, 1952
Birth place: Chicago, Illinois
Birth name: Merrick Brian Garland
Father: Cyril Garland, founder of an advertising agency
Mother: Shirley (Horwitz) Garland, community volunteer
Marriage: Lynn (Rosenman) Garland (1987-present)
Children: Jessica, 1992; Rebecca, 1990
Education: Harvard University, A.B., 1974, graduated summa cum laude; Harvard Law School, J.D., 1977, graduated magna cum laude
Religion: Jewish
Other Facts
Garland supervised the investigation of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and oversaw the prosecution of Timothy McVeigh. He also led the investigations of the 1996 Olympics bombing in Atlanta and the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski.
He paid for law school by working in a shoe store, selling his comic books and tutoring undergraduates.
He was a candidate for the Supreme Court twice before President Barack Obama nominated him, considered for seats ultimately filled by Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Tutors elementary school children in reading and math.
Timeline
1977-1978 – Clerks for Second Circuit Judge Henry Friendly.
1978-1979 – Clerks for US Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan.
1979-1981 – Special Assistant to the Attorney General.
1981-1989 – Joins the law firm Arnold & Porter as an associate and is promoted to partner in 1985.
1989-1992 – Assistant US Attorney for the District of Columbia.
1992-1993 – Returns to Arnold & Porter as partner.
1993-1994 – Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice.
1994-1997 – Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General.
1997-March 2021 – Appointed by President Bill Clinton, Garland serves on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. It took more than a year for Garland to be confirmed in the Senate, as lawmakers questioned whether the vacant seat on the court should be filled at all.
2013 – Becomes chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
March 16, 2016 – Obama nominates Garland to fill the seat of the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court. For months, Senate Republicans refuse to hold confirmation hearings.
January 3, 2017 – Garland’s nomination expires. He returns to his position as chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
February 13, 2020 – Garland steps down as chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. Sri Srinivasan takes over as chief judge.
January 7, 2021 – President-elect Joe Biden announces Garland as his pick for US attorney general.
March 10, 2021 – The Senate confirms Garland as US attorney general with a 70-30 vote.
March 11, 2021 – Garland is officially sworn in as the 86th attorney general by Vice President Kamala Harris.
