cnn
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Here's a look at the life of Attorney General Merrick Garland, former chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
Birthdate: November 13, 1952
Place of birth: Chicago, Illinois
Birth name: Merrick Brian Garland
Father: Cyril Garland, founder of an advertising agency
Mother: Shirley (Horwitz) Garland, community volunteer
Marriage: Lynn (Rosenman) Garland (1987-present)
Children: Jessica and Rebecca
Education: Harvard University, AB, 1974, graduated summa cum laude; Harvard Law School, JD, 1977, graduated magna cum laude
Religion: Jew
Garland oversaw the investigation of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and oversaw the prosecution of Timothy McVeigh. He also led the investigations of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and the Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski.
He paid for his law studies by working in a shoe store, selling his comics and giving private classes to university students.
He was a candidate for the Supreme Court twice before President Barack Obama nominated him, being considered for seats eventually filled by Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Tutors to primary school children in reading and mathematics.
1977-1978 – Clerks to Second Circuit Judge Henry Friendly.
1978-1979 – Clerks to United States Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan.
1979-1981 – Special Assistant to the Attorney General.
1981-1989 – He joined the Arnold & Porter law firm as an associate and was promoted to partner in 1985.
1989-1992 – Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Columbia.
1992-1993 – He returns to Arnold & Porter as a partner.
1993-1994 – Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice.
1994-1997 – Principal Deputy Deputy Attorney General.
1997-March 2021 – Appointed by President Bill Clinton, Garland is a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. It took more than a year for Garland to be confirmed in the Senate, as lawmakers questioned whether the vacant court seat should be filled.
2013 – Becomes chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
March 16, 2016 – Obama nominates Garland to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia's seat on the Supreme Court. For months, Senate Republicans have refused to hold confirmation hearings.
January 3, 2017 – Garland's nomination expires. He returns to his position as chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.
February 13, 2020 – Garland resigns as chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. Sri Srinivasan takes charge.
January 7, 2021 – President-elect Joe Biden announces Garland as his choice for U.S. attorney general.
March 10, 2021 – The Senate confirms Garland as attorney general of the United States by a vote of 70 to 30.
March 11, 2021 – Garland is officially sworn in as the 86th attorney general by Vice President Kamala Harris.
July 1, 2021 – Garland orders a temporary halt to federal executions while top Justice Department officials review policies and procedures for the controversial punishment.
June 30, 2022 – The Department of Justice announces that Garland will undergo a medical procedure for a benign enlarged prostate on July 7. The deputy attorney general will assume the duties of the attorney general during the surgery.
February 3, 2024 – A Justice Department spokesperson says Garland has resumed official duties after undergoing a “minimally invasive back procedure.” The Justice Department announced before the procedure that while Garland would be under anesthesia for “approximately 90 minutes,” the deputy attorney general would assume his duties “shortly before the procedure, during the procedure, and for a brief period after the procedure to allow for recovery from general anesthesia.”
