Merrick Brian Garland born November 13, 1952 is an American lawyer and judge who has served as the 86th U.S. Attorney General since 2021. Prior to this role, he was a circuit judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia from 1997 to 2021. In 2016, President Barack Obama nominated Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court, but his confirmation was blocked by the Republican-controlled Senate. Garland grew up in the Chicago area and attended both Harvard University and Harvard Law School, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He clerked for Judge Henry Friendly of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and for U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Garland then worked in corporate litigation at Arnold & Porter before joining the U.S. Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor, where he oversaw the investigation and prosecution of the Oklahoma City bombers.
Merrick Garland Biography 2024
In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed him to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where he later became Chief Judge from 2013 to 2020. In 2016, President Obama nominated Garland to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. However, the Republican Senate majority refused to hold hearings or vote on his nomination, an unprecedented move that was widely criticized. Garland’s nomination, which lasted 293 days, expired on January 3, 2017, and was eventually filled by President Donald Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch. In January 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Garland as Attorney General, and he was confirmed by the Senate in a 70-30 vote. He assumed office in March 2021.
Merrick Garland Biography Details
| Born | Merrick Brian Garland November 13, 1952 (age 72)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
|---|
| Spouse | |
|---|
| Children | 2 |
|---|
| Education | Harvard University (BA, JD) |
|---|
| Awards | Henry J. Friendly Medal (2022) |
|---|
Merrick Garland Early Life
Merrick Garland was born on November 13, 1952, in Chicago. His mother, Shirley (née Horwitz), was the director of volunteer services at the Chicago Council for Jewish Elderly (now CJE SeniorLife), and his father, Cyril Garland, ran a small family business, Garland Advertising, from their home. Raised in the Conservative Jewish faith, Garland’s family name had been changed from Garfinkel several generations prior. His grandparents emigrated from the Pale of Settlement in the early 20th century to escape antisemitic pogroms in what is now Ukraine and Poland. Garland’s grandmother lost two siblings in the Holocaust. He is also a second cousin of Terry Branstad, the former six-term governor of Iowa and U.S. Ambassador to China.
Garland grew up in Lincolnwood, a northern suburb of Chicago, and attended Niles West High School in Skokie, Illinois, where he was president of the student council, participated in theater, and was a member of the debate team. He graduated as valedictorian in 1970 and was named both a Presidential Scholar and a National Merit Scholar. Garland then went on to Harvard University, where he initially considered becoming a physician before shifting his focus to law. At Harvard, he was active in campus life, including working as a speechwriter for Congressman Abner J. Mikva during the summer. Garland’s thesis at Harvard, which was about industrial mergers in Britain during the 1960s, earned him a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in 1974. He was also elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
After completing his undergraduate studies, Garland attended Harvard Law School, where he became a member of the Harvard Law Review. Although he ran for president of the Law Review, he lost to Susan Estrich and instead served as an articles editor. During his time as editor, he worked on a submission by U.S. Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, which eventually helped Garland secure a clerkship with Justice Brennan. Garland graduated from Harvard Law School in 1977 with a Juris Doctor degree, magna cum laude.
Merrick Garland Career Highlights
Career Aspect | Details |
Current Role | U.S. Attorney General, 86th AG (since 2021) |
Previous Judicial Role | U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (1997-2021) |
Supreme Court Nomination | Nominated in 2016, Senate did not hold a vote |
Early Career | Corporate Litigation, Federal Prosecutor |
Education Background
Aspect of Education | Details |
Undergraduate School | Harvard University, Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude |
Law School | Harvard Law School, Juris Doctor, magna cum laude |
Law Review Involvement | Member of Harvard Law Review, Articles Editor |
Thesis/Research | Industrial mergers in Britain in the 1960s |
Early Career Milestones
Professional Milestone | Details |
Clerkships | U.S. Court of Appeals for Judge Henry Friendly, U.S. Supreme Court for Justice William Brennan |
Private Sector | Corporate litigation at Arnold & Porter |
Federal Prosecutor | Investigated Oklahoma City bombing, supervised major domestic terrorism cases |
Clinton Administration Role | Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division (1993) |
Judicial Appointment and Confirmation
Appointment Aspect | Details |
Nomination Date | September 1995, by President Bill Clinton |
Senate Confirmation | Confirmed on March 19, 1997, by a 76-23 vote |
Role on Court | Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia |
Chief Judge | Served from February 2013 to February 2020 |
Legal Opinions and Style
Judicial Aspect | Details |
Judicial Philosophy | Moderate liberal, centrist with a pro-prosecution bent in criminal cases |
Dissent Rate | Wrote only 15 dissents in over two decades on the bench |
Famous Opinions | Notably involved in cases with significant political or legal ramifications |
Role in the Oklahoma City Bombing Investigation
Investigation Aspect | Details |
Case Involvement | Supervised prosecution of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols |
Action Taken | Visited Oklahoma City, made major prosecutorial decisions |
Public Reaction | Praised by Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating for leadership during the trial |
Confirmation as Attorney General
Appointment Aspect | Details |
Nomination Date | January 2021 by President Joe Biden |
Senate Confirmation | Confirmed by Senate in a 70-30 vote |
First Day in Office | March 11, 2021 |
Personal Life
Personal Detail | Information |
Spouse | Lynn Rosenman Garland (married in 1987) |
Children | Two daughters, Rebecca and Jessica |
Religious Background | Reform Jew |
Garland Influence on Judicial Practices
Influence Aspect | Details |
Judicial Innovation | Advocated for same-day audio recordings of oral arguments in D.C. Circuit |
Workplace Harassment Reforms | Contributed to new judicial branch workplace harassment rules |
Political and Judicial Connections
Connection | Details |
Family Connections | Second cousin of Terry Branstad, former Iowa Governor |
Professional Connections | Mentored by Jamie Gorelick, a key figure in the Clinton administration |
Garland Financial Disclosures
Financial Aspect | Details |
Estimated Net Worth (2021) | Between $8.6 million and $33 million |
Sources of Wealth | Legal practice, judicial salary, public speaking engagements |
Garland Public Service Roles
Service Role | Details |
Harvard Board of Overseers | Served as president in 2009–2010 |
D.C. Bar | Co-chair of Administrative Law section, 1991–1994 |
Garland Courtroom Impact
Courtroom Aspect | Details |
Court Decisions | Known for neutral, balanced decisions with minimal dissent |
Major Legal Issues | Involved in cases ranging from antitrust law to terrorism |
Garland Role in National Security
National Security Aspect | Details |
Criminal Justice Impact | Supervised major terrorism-related prosecutions including the Oklahoma City bombing |
Policy Influence | Advocated for measures enhancing legal response to national security threats |
Garland Personal Challenges
Personal Challenge | Details |
Colorblindness | Uses a list to match suits and ties due to red-green color blindness |
Public Perception | Known for collegiality, moderating contentious legal issues |
Merrick Garland Net Worth
Merrick Garland has a net worth of $50 million.
Merrick Garland Summary
Merrick Garland is a distinguished American lawyer and jurist who has made significant contributions to both legal practice and the judiciary. From his early education at Harvard University to his pivotal role in the U.S. Department of Justice, Garland has exemplified professionalism and commitment to justice. His career was notably marked by his time as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, where he gained a reputation for impartiality and moderation. Despite a highly contentious Supreme Court nomination in 2016, Garland’s appointment as U.S. Attorney General in 2021 has allowed him to continue his public service with a focus on upholding the rule of law in challenging times.
