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Merrick Garland on Principles & Values

 

 


DOJ building a monument to ideal of justice

When I walked in the door of Main Justice this morning, it really did feel like I was coming home. I first walked into this building when I was 26 years old. I was here for a job interview and I was awestruck. This is a beautiful hall and this is a beautiful building built in the midst of the Great Depression. But, it was the ideal of justice to which it is a monument that was truly awe inspiring. Everywhere I looked there were serious people pursuing the cause of Justice.
Source: 2021 Biden Administration: Introductory address to DOJ staff , Mar 11, 2021

We're united by commitment to rule of law & equal justice

All of us are united by our commitment to the rule of law and to seeking equal justice under law. We are united by our commitment to protecting our country as our oath says, "from all enemies foreign and domestic," and by our commitment to enforcing our country's laws and to ensuring the civil rights and the civil liberties of our people.
Source: 2021 Biden Administration: Introductory address to DOJ staff , Mar 11, 2021

An "insider's insider" in understanding Dept. of Justice

Garland is an insider's insider when it comes to understanding how the Department of Justice works--and what its proper function should be. This insider status will be a huge help to Garland in running the Justice Department. The permanent staff will accept and respect him from day one. He knows how power works within the department's highly complex bureaucracy, and he will know how to choose and supervise his political appointees.
Source: Seattle Times on 2021 Biden Administration , Jan 8, 2021

Parents taught him hard work, community service

My grandparents left the pale of settlement, fleeing anti-Semitism. They settled in the Midwest, eventually making their way to Chicago. My father took me as he made the rounds to his customers, always impressing upon me the importance of hard work and fair dealing. My mother headed the local PTA and school board and directed a volunteer services agency, all the while instilling in my sisters and me the understanding that service to the community is a responsibility above all others.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times on 2021 Biden Cabinet , Jan 7, 2021

Parents taught him hard work & community service

My grandparents left the pale of settlement, fleeing anti-Semitism. They settled in the Midwest, eventually making their way to Chicago. My father took me as he made the rounds to his customers, always impressing upon me the importance of hard work and fair dealing. My mother headed the local PTA and school board and directed a volunteer services agency, all the while instilling in my sisters and me the understanding that service to the community is a responsibility above all others.
Source: Chicago Sun-Times on 2021 Biden Administration , Jan 7, 2021

Recused himself from federal cases during consideration

As Garland was under consideration as a potential AG pick, he took some unusual steps to seek to remain above ethical reproach. Beginning in early December, he recused from a series of civil and criminal justice cases involving the U.S. government, including appeals related to a string of executions the Trump administration is carrying out in the weeks leading up to the change in administration.
Source: Politico.com blog on 2021 Cabinet Confirmation Hearings , Jan 6, 2021

Recused himself from federal cases during consideration

As Garland was under consideration as a potential AG pick, he took some unusual steps to seek to remain above ethical reproach. Beginning in early December, he recused from a series of civil and criminal justice cases involving the U.S. government, including appeals related to a string of executions the Trump administration is carrying out in the weeks leading up to the change in administration.
Source: Politico.com on 2021 Biden Transition , Jan 6, 2021

Praised by Brett Kavanaugh: "He's been a role model to me"

In Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's opening statement at his hearing, he praised Merrick Garland, with whom he serves on the D.C. Circuit, as "our superb chief judge."

When President Obama nominated Garland to the high court, Judge Kavanaugh described his colleague as "supremely qualified by the objective characteristics of experience, temperament, writing ability, scholarly ability for the Supreme Court . He has been a role model to me in how he goes about his job."

Source: Cato Institute voting recommendation: Confirmation Hearings , Sep 6, 2018

Praised by Brett Kavanaugh: He's been a role model to me

In Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh's opening statement at his hearing Tuesday, he praised Merrick Garland, with whom he serves on the D.C. Circuit, as "our superb chief judge."

When President Obama nominated Garland to the high court, Judge Kavanaugh described his colleague as "supremely qualified by the objective characteristics of experience, temperament, writing ability, scholarly ability for the Supreme Court . He has been a role model to me in how he goes about his job."

Source: Cato Institute voting: SCOTUS Confirmation Hearings , Sep 6, 2018

Sold his comics books to help pay for Harvard Law tuition

School board President Scott L. Anderson spoke about the judge's accomplishments at Lincoln Hall, which included serving as student council president. He also shared some trivia about Garland, including the fact that he sold his comic books to help pay for his tuition at Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Source: Chicago Tribune on 2021 Biden Cabinet , Sep 5, 2018

Sold his comics books to help pay for Harvard Law tuition

School board President Scott L. Anderson spoke about the judge's accomplishments at Lincoln Hall, which included serving as student council president. He also shared some trivia about Garland, including the fact that he sold his comic books to help pay for his tuition at Harvard Law School, where he graduated magna cum laude.
Source: Chicago Tribune on 2021 Biden Administration , Sep 5, 2018

An "insider's insider" in understanding Dept. of Justice

Garland is an insider's insider when it comes to understanding how the Department of Justice works -- and what its proper function should be. This insider status will be a huge help to Garland in running the Justice Department. The permanent staff will accept and respect him from day one. He knows how power works within the department's highly complex bureaucracy, and he will know how to choose and supervise his political appointees.
Source: Seattle Times on 2021 Biden Cabinet , Jul 5, 2018

Other candidates on Principles & Values: Merrick Garland on other issues:
Incoming 2021 Biden Administration:
Defense:Lloyd Austin
State/Luxembourg:Tom Barrett
HHS:Xavier Becerra
Pres.:Joe Biden
State:Antony Blinken
DOT:Pete Buttigieg
State/Japan:Rahm Emanuel
State/Turkey:Jeff Flake
HUD:Marcia Fudge
State/India:Eric Garcetti
Attorney General:Merrick_Garland
DOE:Jennifer Granholm
DOI:Deb Haaland
V.P.:Kamala Harris
State/Australia:Caroline_Kennedy
Climate:John Kerry
NASA:Bill Nelson
DHS:Alejandro Mayorkas
NASA:Bill Nelson
DOC:Gina Raimondo
Domestic Policy:Susan Rice
Public Liaison:Cedric Richmond
State/Mexico:Ken Salazar
State/N.Z.:Tom Udall
USDA:Tom Vilsack
DOL:Marty Walsh
Treasury:Janet Yellen

Cabinet Archives:
Biden Cabinet
Biden Administration
Trump Cabinet
Trump Administration
Obama Cabinet
Bush Cabinet
Biden Books
Trump Books
Obama Books
Bush Books
Former Trump Administration:
Pres.:Trump
V.P.:Pence
DOT:Chao
ODNI:Coats
U.N.:Haley
Staff:Mulvaney
USDA:Perdue
A.G.:Sessions
DOI:Zinke

Former Obama Administration:
Pres.:Barack Obama
V.P.:Joe Biden
HUD:Julian Castro
State:Hillary Clinton

Former Bush Administration:
Pres.:George W. Bush
V.P.:Dick Cheney
State:Colin Powell
State:Condi Rice
EPA:Christie Whitman

Former Clinton Administration:
Pres.:PBill Clinton
V.P.:Al Gore
HUD:Andrew Cuomo
DOL:Robert Reich
A.G.:Janet Reno
State:Madeleine Albright
Abortion
Budget/Economy
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Free Trade
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Infrastructure/Technology
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Page last updated: Sep 01, 2021