Merrick Garland

Merrick Brian Garland is an American lawyer, judge, and former U.S.

Merrick Brian Garland is an American lawyer, judge, and former U.S. attorney general. He served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1997 to 2021, including as chief judge from 2013 to 2020, and as the 86th attorney general of the United States from 2021 to 2025.

Early life and education

Garland was born on November 13, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago area. He attended Harvard College, graduating summa cum laude in 1974, and Harvard Law School, graduating magna cum laude in 1977, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review.

Legal and judicial career

After law school, Garland clerked for Judge Henry J. Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court. He joined the U.S. Department of Justice early in his career and later worked as a federal prosecutor. President Bill Clinton appointed him to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1997, and he served as chief judge of that court from 2013 to 2020.

Supreme Court nomination

President Barack Obama nominated Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2016 following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. The Senate did not hold confirmation hearings or vote on the nomination.

Attorney general

Garland was nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed as the 86th Attorney General of the United States, serving from March 11, 2021, to January 20, 2025. He led the Department of Justice through the remainder of the Biden administration.

Public profile

Garland is often described as a consensus-oriented judge with extensive federal legal experience. His career has included both appellate judging and senior leadership within the Justice Department.