Merrick Garland
U.S. Attorney General
Merrick Brian Garland was born in November 1952 in Chicago, Illinois. He earned an undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor from Harvard University. He spent two years as a law clerk at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and then for Justice William Brennan at the U.S. Supreme Court. He served as a special assistant to the U.S. Attorney General during President Carter’s administration, then entered private practice.
Returning to public service, he became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia, working as a prosecutor. He briefly returned to private practice, then joined President Clinton’s administration as deputy assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
President Clinton nominated Garland to a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. His nomination expired without action from the Senate, but President Clinton renominated him, and he won Senate confirmation in a 76-23 vote. He assumed his seat in March 1997. He was that court’s Chief Judge for 17 years.
After the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Garland was appointed by President Obama to fill that vacancy. That nomination expired with the ending of the 114th Congress.
President Joe Biden nominated him to the position of U.S. Attorney General. Garland retired from judicial service and the Senate confirmed his appointment in a 70-30 vote. He assumed his position in March 2021.
Garland is married to Lynn and they have two daughters. He is Jewish.
In the News…
Attorney General Merrick Garland sounded a somber warning in remarks at the Oklahoma City memorial that recognized the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building 26 years ago. While honoring the lives lost there, he drew a parallel to the domestic terror threat currently facing the homeland.
“Although many years have passed, the terror perpetrated by people like Timothy McVeigh is still with us,” the attorney general said. “Just last month, the FBI warned of the ongoing and heightened threat posed by domestic violent extremists. Those of us who were in Oklahoma City in April 1995 do not need any warning.”
Attorney General Garland stressed that amid a heightened threat from domestic extremists, his department continues to work to ensure that a tragedy like the one that struck Oklahoma City does not happen again.
“The Department of Justice is pouring its resources into stopping domestic violent extremists before they can attack, prosecuting those who do, and battling the spread of the kind of hate that leads to tragedies like the one we mark here today,” he said. “We must all stand together against them — for the safety of our communities and for the good of our country.”
Contact this Leader…
Did you pray for Attorney General Garland today? You can let him know at:
The Honorable Merrick Garland
Attorney General
Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20530
