A former clerk for Justice William Brennan, he's served in private practice and at the Justice Department. Merrick Garland is a name that might ring a bell, because he was former President Barack Obama’s pick in 2016 to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by the death of Antonin Scalia. But President Obama hopes his ability to win over conservatives will extend to the Supreme Court. degreein 1977. As far back as 1985, Garland laid down his judicial philosophy in a Harvard Law Review essay. Also, the National Federation of Independent Business claimed that Garland "nearly always sides with regulators, labor unions and trial lawyers at the expense of small businesses," which the group called "discouraging. . Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule 1 drug. Merrick Garland was pressed on political independence of the Justice Department, systemic racism, immigration, the war on drugs and more. Garland's grandparents settled in Chicago after fleeing anti-Semitism in Russia. Garland is the chief judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. He was appointed to this position in 1997 by President Bill Clinton. It would be "simply impossible" for Senate Republicans to oppose Garland on the merits, Vladeck said. . "He is very smart, careful and fair.". "He's shown a rare ability to bring together odd couples, assemble unlikely coalitions, persuade colleagues with wide-ranging judicial philosophies to sign on to his opinions.". He has served on that court since 1997. Prior to this, the Court of Appeal’s initial three-judge panel struck down the ban. Merrick Garland is currently the chief judge for the U.S Court of Appeals for the D.C. The Senate has confirmed Merrick Garland to be the next U.S. attorney general with a strong bipartisan vote, as President Biden has vowed to restore the Justice Department's reputation for Posted on February 23, 2021 February 23, 2021 by NLPC Staff. Senate Confirms Merrick Garland More Garland stressed at his confirmation hearing that he would protect the Justice Department from political interference from the White House. #SCOTUSnominee https://t.co/ACujysyyDJ. If Garland succeeds in taking the seat of Justice Antonin Scalia, he might rival Scalia's extraordinary -- and at times colorful -- writing style. Merrick Garland’s Double Standard on Political Violence. Wired Danger Room I am an Independent voter so I carry no one’s water. "I've never met anyone with more integrity who was a straighter shooter than he was," said University of Southern California law professor Sam Erman, who clerked for Garland. Garland's court remanded the case with instructions to dismiss it for lack of jurisdiction back in 2013 -- but not before Garland had some fun. He doesn't have some academic theory driving his jurisprudence but decides the cases one at a time as they come before him," Vladeck said. Your email address will not be published. Merrick Garland known as moderate and politically connected judge. President-elect Joe Biden named Merrick Garland as his nominee for attorney general, the transition team said Thursday. Meet Chief Judge Merrick Garland, the President's nominee to the Supreme Court. Garland, 63, was confirmed by a 76-23 vote. WASHINGTON — The US Senate voted 70–30 on Wednesday to confirm Merrick Garland as President Joe Biden’s first US attorney general, nearly five years to the day after he was nominated to the Supreme Court in a bid that was blocked by Republicans.. Garland leaves behind a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals judge to take over the Justice Department in the middle of a … . All Rights Reserved. He’s an experienced DC political player. "People must be confident that a judge's decisions are determined by the law and only the law. The NRA will certainly attempt to make sure the Senate keeps Merrick Garland holstered. Required fields are marked *, Right to Act: United States Legal Basis Under the Law of Armed Conflict to Pursue the Islamic State in Syria, Rhode Island’s Lack of Domestic Terrorism Victim Compensation, 2015 Symposium Video Now Available Online, NSAC 2015-2016 Symposium on November 20, 2015, Editor-In-Chief Note: DOJ Announces Creation of New Special Counsel Position for the Prosecution of Domestic Terrorism, Failures of the Current H1-B Visa Program, Merrick Garland: Views on Marijuana and Guns. He has extensive connections and relationships with almost every political power player in front of the cameras and behind the scenes in the back rooms and dark hallways. (Mar 2016) Let civil rights plaintiffs receive appropriate day in Court. "He's not flashy. Conservative Backlash Against McConnell’s Support For Garland. If confirmed, Garland will take over a demoralized Justice Department that has abandoned bedrock principles and priorities, and come under withering attack from President Donald Trump’s administration. But, when it comes to the Second Amendment, we have somewhat of an idea how Merrick Garland feels. The White House is positioning Garland as an experienced judge who bridges the ideological divide. Security Law Brief Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to give Garland a Senate hearing, saying they would not hold any hearings until a new president was elected later that year. Why political scientists think Merrick Garland is more liberal than lawyers do By Libby Nelson @libbyanelson Mar 16, 2016, 6:00pm EDT Share this story On Wednesday, however, Hatch said he feels the Senate should wait until next year to consider a candidate. Whether or not you feel that now is the time for Merrick Garland to get the call up is a whole other issue. Disclaimer: The views and opinions of students, professors, and practitioners that appear on this site do notreflect the official position of the National Security & Armed Conflict Law Review or the University of Miami School of Law onany particular issue, legal or otherwise. Mr. Garland is known as an appeals court judge who respects Supreme Court precedent. [and]. Garland is considered anti-Second Amendment.As the National Review noted last week: “Back in 2007, Judge Garland voted to undo a D.C. "Fidelity to the Constitution and the law has been the cornerstone of my professional life. The Best Defense: Tom Rick's Daily Take on National Security. He graduated from Harvard College with his bachelor's degree in 1974 and later from Harvard Law School with his J.D. It pointed out that as a. Garland could hit the ground running with other justices -- including Chief Justice John Roberts -- who have known him for years. He voted to re-hear a case involving a ban on handguns. This article will discuss how Merrick Garland has ruled on guns and marijuana. International Graduate Law Programs He was moving when discussing with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker his reasons for accepting the nomination from President Joe Biden to become the next Attorney General, invoking his family’s history of fleeing Anti Semitism in Europe and emigrating to the United … His most charged cases, on national security and campaign finance, sometimes disappointed liberals. Merrick Brian Garland (born November 13, 1952) is an American attorney and jurist who serves as a United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Lawfare: Hard National Security Choices 1. This article will discuss how Merrick Garland … Spotty record on supporting LGBT protests and free speech. Federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland, right, departs with President Obama and Vice President Biden as he is introduced as Obama’s nominee for … He "tends not to go out of his way to say anything beyond the minimum necessary to decide the case.". In 2010, as the Senate looked to confirm a successor to Justice John Paul Stevens, Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch called Garland "a consensus nominee," according to the White House. According to Twitter, the “NRA, on behalf of its 5 [million] members, will oppose Merrick Garland.” It appears clear that the National Rifle Association is not fond of Merrick Garland’s stance on the Second Amendment. As tempting as it may be to consider the arbitrary and capricious claim in a case involving a goat, an array of justiciability problems -- mootness, ripeness and standing -- require us to decline the opportunity.". He's known more for the cases he's prosecuted than the decisions he's handed down from the bench, Vladeck said. The Chief Judge Merrick Garland, of the D.C. "Judge Garland has earned a track record of building consensus as a thoughtful, fair-minded judge who follows the law," Obama said. Senate Judiciary Committee advances nomination of Merrick Garland for attorney general. VIDEO: Merrick Garland Says Antifa Attacks On Courthouses Aren’t Domestic Terrorism Because They Happen At Night Biden regime AG nominee stammers his way through explanation for why he appears to classify domestic terrorism on a political basis. The Long War Journal Merrick Garland is currently the chief judge for the U.S Court of Appeals for the D.C. are the most dangerous drugs of all the drug schedules.” Around 2013, Americans For Safe Access, a medical marijuana advocacy group, sought to reschedule marijuana under the DEA’s Controlled Substance Act so that more research could be done on the potential medical applications of marijuana, says Sun Times Network.