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 Merrick Brian Garland was born on November 13, 1952, in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2LxFAQAAIAAJ |title=Biographical Directory of the Federal Judiciary |publisher=Bernan Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0890592588 |page=511 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161102134130/https://books.google.com/books?id=2LxFAQAAIAAJ |archive-date=November 2, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> He grew up in the northern Chicago suburb of [[Lincolnwood, Illinois|Lincolnwood.]]<ref name="SweetChicagoNative">{{cite news|first=Lynn |last=Sweet |url=http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/obama-supreme-court-pick-lincolnwoods-merrick-garland/ |title=Obama Supreme Court pick: Chicago native Merrick Garland |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320015933/http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/obama-supreme-court-pick-lincolnwoods-merrick-garland/ |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ReputationCollegiality">Nina Totenberg & Carrie Johnson, {{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2016/03/16/126614141/merrick-garland-has-a-reputation-of-collegiality-record-of-republican-support |title=Merrick Garland Has A Reputation of Collegiality, Record of Republican Support |publisher=NPR |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320100539/http://www.npr.org/2016/03/16/126614141/merrick-garland-has-a-reputation-of-collegiality-record-of-republican-support |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> His mother Shirley (''née'' Horwitz)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-11-27/news/0011270039_1_weinstein-chapel-service-roter |title=Garland (obituary) |date=November 27, 2000 |work=Chicago Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222171812/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-11-27/news/0011270039_1_weinstein-chapel-service-roter |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> was a director of volunteer services at [[CJE SeniorLife|Chicago's Council for Jewish Elderly]] (now called CJE SeniorLife). His father, Cyril Garland, headed Garland Advertising, a [[small business]] run out of the family home.<ref name="ReputationCollegiality" /><ref name="nytimesref">{{cite news|title=Lynn Rosenman is Married |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 20, 1987 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/20/style/lynn-rosenman-is-married.html |access-date=April 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414200345/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/20/style/lynn-rosenman-is-married.html |archive-date=April 14, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ForwardStory">{{cite web|first=Josh |last=Nathan-Kazis |url=http://forward.com/news/336091/merrick-garland-offers-poignant-story-about-anti-semitism-as-supreme-court/ |title=Merrick Garland Offers Poignant Story About Anti-Semitism as Supreme Court Battle Looms |work=[[The Forward]] |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320090502/http://forward.com/news/336091/can-merrick-garland-fair-minded-mensch-of-a-judge-win-spot-on-the-supreme-c/ |archive-date=March 20, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Garland was raised in [[Conservative Judaism]], the family name having been changed from Garfinkel several generations prior. His grandparents left the [[Pale of Settlement]] within the [[Russian Empire]] in the early twentieth century, fleeing [[Antisemitism in the Russian Empire|antisemitic]] [[Anti-Jewish pogroms in the Russian Empire|pogroms]] and seeking a better life for their children in the United States.<ref name="ForwardStory"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Margolick |first=David |url=http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/198684/whats-in-merrick-garlands-name |title=What's in Merrick Garland's Name? |publisher=[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]] |date=March 18, 2016 |access-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324190834/http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/198684/whats-in-merrick-garlands-name |archive-date=March 24, 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is a second cousin of six-term Iowa Governor [[Terry Branstad]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=McKinney|first1=Kait|title=Branstad Has Unique Connection to SCOTUS Nominee Merrick Garland|url=http://whotv.com/2016/03/16/branstad-has-unique-connection-to-scotus-nominee-merrick-garland/|work=WHO-HD Channel 13|date=March 16, 2016|access-date=March 16, 2016|archive-date=March 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321000616/http://whotv.com/2016/03/16/branstad-has-unique-connection-to-scotus-nominee-merrick-garland/|url-status=live}}</ref>
-Garland attended [[Niles West High School]] in [[Skokie, Illinois|Skokie]], Illinois, where he was president of the student council, acted in theatrical productions, and was a member of the debate team.<ref name=NYT1>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/us/politics/merrick-garland-supreme-court-nominee.html|title=Merrick Garland's Path to Nomination Marked by Deference, With Limits|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl Gay|date=March 16, 2016 |page=A1|last2=Liptak|first2=Adam|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=March 20, 2016}}</ref> He graduated in 1970 as the class [[valedictorian]].<ref name="ReputationCollegiality"/><ref name="SweetChicagoNative"/> Garland was also a [[Presidential Scholars Program|Presidential Scholar]] and [[National Merit Scholar]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/630230392.html?dids=630230392:630230392&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+30%2C+1970&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(1963-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=A10&desc=145+in+Chicago%2C+Suburbs+Awarded+Merit+Scholarships|title=145 in Chicago, Suburbs Awarded Merit Scholarships|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/598206112.html?dids=598206112:598206112&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+5%2C+1970&author=ALDO+BECKMAN&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(1963-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=2&desc=Nixon+Urges+Scholars+to+Take+Active+Role+in+Communities|title=Nixon Urges Scholars to Take Active Role in Communities|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>
+Garland attended [[Niles West High School]] in [[Skokie, Illinois|Skokie]], Illinois, where he was president of the student council, acted in theatrical productions, and was a member of the debate team.<ref name=NYT1>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/17/us/politics/merrick-garland-supreme-court-nominee.html|title=Merrick Garland's Path to Nomination Marked by Deference, With Limits|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl Gay|date=March 16, 2016 |page=A1|last2=Liptak|first2=Adam|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=March 20, 2016}}</ref> He graduated in 1970 as the class [[valedictorian]].<ref name="SweetChicagoNative"/><ref name="ReputationCollegiality"/> Garland was also a [[Presidential Scholars Program|Presidential Scholar]] and [[National Merit Scholar]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/630230392.html?dids=630230392:630230392&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+30%2C+1970&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(1963-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=A10&desc=145+in+Chicago%2C+Suburbs+Awarded+Merit+Scholarships|title=145 in Chicago, Suburbs Awarded Merit Scholarships|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/598206112.html?dids=598206112:598206112&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jun+5%2C+1970&author=ALDO+BECKMAN&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(1963-Current+file)&edition=&startpage=2&desc=Nixon+Urges+Scholars+to+Take+Active+Role+in+Communities|title=Nixon Urges Scholars to Take Active Role in Communities|newspaper=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>
 After high school, Garland went to [[Harvard University]], where he majored in social studies.<ref name="ReputationCollegiality"/><ref name="NPR2010ShortList">{{cite news |title=A Short List: Who Will Succeed Justice Stevens? |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=April 9, 2010 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125766967 }}</ref><ref name="OfficialCongressionalDirectory">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Kl_GqvpDelsC&pg=PA836 |title=Official Congressional Directory: 109th Congress: 2005–2006 |isbn=978-0160724671 |page=836 |author=U. S. Government Printing Office |date=2005 |access-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109213714/https://books.google.com/books?id=Kl_GqvpDelsC&pg=PA836 |url-status=live }}</ref> He initially wanted to become a physician, but quickly decided to become a lawyer instead.<ref name="NYT1" /> Garland allied himself with his future boss, [[Jamie Gorelick]], when he was elected the only freshman member of a campus-wide committee on which Gorelick also served.<ref name="WashPo3/27">{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Amy|last2=Hamburger|first2=Tom|title=For Merrick Garland, a methodical life of ambition|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-merrick-garland-a-methodical-life-of-ambition-without-sharp-elbows/2016/03/26/e53becc6-f062-11e5-89c3-a647fcce95e0_story.html|access-date=March 29, 2016|work=The Washington Post|date=March 27, 2016|page=A1}}</ref> During his college summers Garland volunteered as a speechwriter to Congressman [[Abner J. Mikva]].<ref name="WashPo3/27"/> After President [[Jimmy Carter]] appointed Mikva to the D.C. Circuit, Mikva would rely on Garland when selecting clerks.<ref name="NYT 3/27">{{cite news|last1=Stolberg|first1=Sheryl Gay|last2=Apuzzo|first2=Matt|last3=Seelye|first3=Katharine Q.|title=Merrick Garland Is a Deft Navigator of Washington's Legal Circles|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/27/us/politics/merrick-garland-obama-supreme-court-nominee.html?_r=0|access-date=March 29, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=March 27, 2016|page=A1}}</ref> At Harvard, Garland wrote news articles and [[Theatre criticism|theater reviews]] for the ''[[The Harvard Crimson|Harvard Crimson]]'' and worked as a [[Quincy House (Harvard)|Quincy House]] tutor.<ref>{{cite web |first=Claire E. |last=Parker |url=http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2016/3/17/Garland-maintains-Harvard-ties/ |title=Supreme Court Nominee Maintains Close Harvard Ties |work=Harvard Crimson |date=March 17, 2016 |access-date=March 20, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="RosenEllement">{{cite news |author1=Rosen, Andy |author2=Ellement, John R. |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/16/obama-supreme-court-nominee-has-strong-ties-harvard-university/wE7cgF8qRokW2A9Vq5ygEO/story.html |title=Obama Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland has strong ties to Harvard University |work=Boston Globe |date=March 16, 2016 |access-date=March 20, 2016 }}</ref> Garland wrote his 235-page honors thesis on industrial mergers in Britain in the 1960s.<ref name="WashPo3/27"/><ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Garland |first1=Merrick Brian |title=Industrial reorganization in Britain; an interpretation of government/industry relations in the 1960's. |date=1974 |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/76985796 |access-date=February 22, 2021 |institution=[[Harvard University]] |language=English |oclc=76985796}}</ref> Garland graduated from Harvard in 1974 as class valedictorian with an [[Bachelor of Arts|A.B.]] [[Latin honors#United States|''summa cum laude'']] and was elected to [[Phi Beta Kappa]].
-Garland then attended [[Harvard Law School]].<ref name="NPR2010ShortList"/> During law school, Garland was a member of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]''. He ran for the presidency of the ''Law Review'' during his third year, but lost to [[Susan Estrich]], and served as an articles editor instead.<ref name="WashPo3/27"/><ref name="OfficialCongressionalDirectory"/> As an articles editor, Garland assigned himself to edit a submission by U.S. Supreme Court justice [[William J. Brennan Jr.|William Brennan]] on the topic of the role of [[State constitution (United States)|state constitution]]s in safeguarding [[individual right]]s.<ref name="WashPo3/27"/><ref name="NYT 3/27"/><ref name="Mauro">Tony Mauro, [https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2018/03/26/how-merrick-garland-landed-a-supreme-court-clerkship-with-brennan/ How Merrick Garland Landed a Supreme Court Clerkship With Brennan], ''National Law Journal'' (March 26, 2018).</ref> This correspondence with Brennan later contributed to his winning a clerkship with the justice.<ref name="Mauro"/> Garland graduated from Harvard Law in 1977 with a [[Juris Doctor]] ''magna cum laude''.
+Garland then attended [[Harvard Law School]].<ref name="NPR2010ShortList"/> During law school, Garland was a member of the ''[[Harvard Law Review]]''. He ran for the presidency of the ''Law Review'' during his third year, but lost to [[Susan Estrich]], and served as an articles editor instead.<ref name="OfficialCongressionalDirectory"/><ref name="WashPo3/27"/> As an articles editor, Garland assigned himself to edit a submission by U.S. Supreme Court justice [[William J. Brennan Jr.|William Brennan]] on the topic of the role of [[State constitution (United States)|state constitution]]s in safeguarding [[individual right]]s.<ref name="WashPo3/27"/><ref name="NYT 3/27"/><ref name="Mauro">Tony Mauro, [https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2018/03/26/how-merrick-garland-landed-a-supreme-court-clerkship-with-brennan/ How Merrick Garland Landed a Supreme Court Clerkship With Brennan], ''National Law Journal'' (March 26, 2018).</ref> This correspondence with Brennan later contributed to his winning a clerkship with the justice.<ref name="Mauro"/> Garland graduated from Harvard Law in 1977 with a [[Juris Doctor]] ''magna cum laude''.
 ==Early career==
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 ===Service as chief judge===
-Garland became chief judge of the D.C. Circuit on February 12, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/home.nsf/content/VL+-+Judges+-+MBG |title=Merrick B. Garland |publisher=United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit |access-date=March 16, 2016 }}</ref> As chief judge, Garland announced in May 2013 that the D.C. Circuit had unanimously decided to provide the public with same-day audio recordings of [[oral argument]]s in the court.<ref name="RCFPMediaLaw"/><ref>{{cite web |first=Kelly |last=Cheung |url=https://blogs.findlaw.com/dc_circuit/2013/05/more-public-access-to-court-dc-to-release-oral-argument-audio.html |title=More Public Access to Court: D.C. to Release Oral Argument Audio |work=[[FindLaw]] |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=June 20, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="fjc.gov"/> As chief judge, Garland was an active member of the [[Judicial Conference of the United States]],<ref name=PassesGavel>{{Cite web|title=Merrick Garland passes gavel to Sri Srinivasan to lead influential appeals court|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/merrick-garland-passes-gavel-to-sri-srinivasan-to-lead-influential-appeals-court/2020/02/13/2bb5e316-4e77-11ea-b721-9f4cdc90bc1c_story.html|date=February 13, 2020|author=Ann E. Marimow}}</ref> and was involved in the formulation of new rules to protect federal judicial branch employees from workplace harassment, which were adopted in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct allegations against Judge [[Alex Kozinski]].<ref name=PassesGavel/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Federal judiciary leaders approve new rules to protect court employees from workplace harassment|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/federal-judiciary-leaders-approve-new-rules-to-protect-court-employees-from-workplace-harassment/2019/03/12/588a7208-44c3-11e9-8aab-95b8d80a1e4f_story.html|date=March 12, 2019|author=Ann E. Marimow}}</ref> Garland's seven-year term as chief judge ended on February 11, 2020, with Judge [[Sri Srinivasan]] succeeding him.<ref name=PassesGavel/> Garland continued to serve as an active member of the court.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/intranet/home.nsf/Content/Announcement+-+Chief+Judge+Succession+2020/$FILE/ChiefChangePressRelease2020.pdf|title=Press Release|publisher=United States Courts for the D.C. Circuit|date=February 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Merrick Garland's Time as Chief Judge of the DC Circuit Is Ending. Sri Srinivasan Is Up Next. |url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2020/01/24/merrick-garlands-time-as-chief-judge-of-the-dc-circuit-is-ending-sri-srinivasan-is-up-next/ |last1=Thomsen |first1=Jacqueline |date=January 24, 2020 |website=National Law Journal |access-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109213714/https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2020/01/24/merrick-garlands-time-as-chief-judge-of-the-dc-circuit-is-ending-sri-srinivasan-is-up-next/?slreturn=20210009163712 |url-status=live }}</ref>
+Garland became chief judge of the D.C. Circuit on February 12, 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/internet/home.nsf/content/VL+-+Judges+-+MBG |title=Merrick B. Garland |publisher=United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit |access-date=March 16, 2016 }}</ref> As chief judge, Garland announced in May 2013 that the D.C. Circuit had unanimously decided to provide the public with same-day audio recordings of [[oral argument]]s in the court.<ref name="fjc.gov"/><ref name="RCFPMediaLaw"/><ref>{{cite web |first=Kelly |last=Cheung |url=https://blogs.findlaw.com/dc_circuit/2013/05/more-public-access-to-court-dc-to-release-oral-argument-audio.html |title=More Public Access to Court: D.C. to Release Oral Argument Audio |work=[[FindLaw]] |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=June 20, 2013 }}</ref> As chief judge, Garland was an active member of the [[Judicial Conference of the United States]],<ref name=PassesGavel>{{Cite web|title=Merrick Garland passes gavel to Sri Srinivasan to lead influential appeals court|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/merrick-garland-passes-gavel-to-sri-srinivasan-to-lead-influential-appeals-court/2020/02/13/2bb5e316-4e77-11ea-b721-9f4cdc90bc1c_story.html|date=February 13, 2020|author=Ann E. Marimow}}</ref> and was involved in the formulation of new rules to protect federal judicial branch employees from workplace harassment, which were adopted in the wake of multiple sexual misconduct allegations against Judge [[Alex Kozinski]].<ref name=PassesGavel/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Federal judiciary leaders approve new rules to protect court employees from workplace harassment|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/federal-judiciary-leaders-approve-new-rules-to-protect-court-employees-from-workplace-harassment/2019/03/12/588a7208-44c3-11e9-8aab-95b8d80a1e4f_story.html|date=March 12, 2019|author=Ann E. Marimow}}</ref> Garland's seven-year term as chief judge ended on February 11, 2020, with Judge [[Sri Srinivasan]] succeeding him.<ref name=PassesGavel/> Garland continued to serve as an active member of the court.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.cadc.uscourts.gov/intranet/home.nsf/Content/Announcement+-+Chief+Judge+Succession+2020/$FILE/ChiefChangePressRelease2020.pdf|title=Press Release|publisher=United States Courts for the D.C. Circuit|date=February 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Merrick Garland's Time as Chief Judge of the DC Circuit Is Ending. Sri Srinivasan Is Up Next. |url=https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2020/01/24/merrick-garlands-time-as-chief-judge-of-the-dc-circuit-is-ending-sri-srinivasan-is-up-next/ |last1=Thomsen |first1=Jacqueline |date=January 24, 2020 |website=National Law Journal |access-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-date=January 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109213714/https://www.law.com/nationallawjournal/2020/01/24/merrick-garlands-time-as-chief-judge-of-the-dc-circuit-is-ending-sri-srinivasan-is-up-next/?slreturn=20210009163712 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 ===Notable cases===
@@ Line 145: / Line 145: @@
 President-elect [[Joe Biden]] selected Garland for the position of [[United States attorney general]], with news of the selection coming on January 6, 2021.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |title=Judge Merrick Garland, Attorney General |url=https://buildbackbetter.gov/nominees-and-appointees/merrick-garland/ |website=Buildbackbetter.gov |access-date=January 7, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Jess|last=Bravin|first2=Sadie|last2=Gurman|first3=Aruna|last3=Viswanatha|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/biden-to-name-appeals-court-judge-merrick-garland-as-attorney-general-11609954069|title=Biden to Name Merrick Garland as Attorney General|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=January 6, 2021}}</ref> He was formally nominated by Biden on January 20, after [[Inauguration of Joe Biden|Biden took office]].<ref>[https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/78/7 PN78-7{{snd}}Merrick Brian Garland{{snd}}Department of Justice]: 117th Congress, Congress.gov.</ref> In [[Senate Judiciary Committee]] confirmation hearings, Garland vowed to oversee vigorous prosecution of those who [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol|stormed the United States Capitol]], and other domestic extremists, drawing on his experience prosecuting the perpetrators of the [[Oklahoma City bombing]].<ref name=GarlandConfirmed>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/10/us/politics/merrick-garland-attorney-general-confirmation.html|newspaper=The New York Times|title=Merrick Garland Is Confirmed as Attorney General|first=Katie|last=Benner|date=March 10, 2021}}</ref><ref name=Pengelly>{{Cite web|first=Martin|last=Pengelly|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/21/merrick-garland-white-supremacists-attorney-general-senate-judiciary-hearing|title=Merrick Garland vows to target white supremacists as attorney general|newspaper=The Guardian|date=February 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name=APSharp>{{Cite web|first=Eric|last=Tucker|first2=Mary Clare|last2=Jalonick|first3=Michael|last3=Balsamo|url=https://apnews.com/article/merrick-garland-confirmation-hearing-b5f03bc4ab13c8e42bb9994e7b2765d6|agency=Associated Press|title=Garland vows sharp focus on Capitol riot as attorney general|date=February 23, 2021}}</ref> Garland said it was likely the Biden administration would place a moratorium on use of the [[federal death penalty]] and expressed reservations about the death penalty in light of the "almost randomness or arbitrariness of its application."<ref name=APSharp/> He pledged to protect [[equal justice under law]] and reinvigorate the [[Civil Rights Division|DOJ Civil Rights Division]], which languished under the [[Presidency of Donald Trump|Trump administration]].<ref name=Pengelly/><ref>{{cite web|first=Jan|last=Wolfe|first2=Sarah N.|last2=Lynch|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-senate-justice/bidens-attorney-general-nominee-garland-vows-to-prioritize-civil-rights-idUSKBN2AL02W|title=Biden's attorney general nominee Garland vows to prioritize civil rights|work=Reuters|date=February 20, 2021|accessdate=March 11, 2021}}</ref> Garland affirmed that the Justice Department would remain independent under his leadership.<ref name=APSharp/>
-The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 15–7 to advance Garland's nomination to the Senate floor,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senate committee advances Merrick Garland's nomination for attorney general|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-committee-advances-garland-nomination-attorney-general-n1259139|access-date=2021-03-01|website=NBC News|first=Rebecca|last=Shabad|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Higgins|first=Tucker|date=2021-03-01|title=Merrick Garland's nomination to be attorney general advances to full Senate|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/01/merrick-garland-attorney-general-nomination-advances-in-the-senate.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> and on March 10, the Senate confirmed Garland's nomination by a vote of 70–30.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00114 |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Merrick Brian Garland, of Maryland, to be Attorney General) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021-03-10 |website=U.S. Senate |access-date=2021-03-11}}</ref><ref name=GarlandConfirmed/><ref>{{Cite web|first=Alex|last=Rogers|date=March 10, 2021|title=Senate confirms Merrick Garland as attorney general|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/10/politics/garland-senate-confirmation-vote/index.html|access-date=March 11, 2021|work=[[CNN]]|language=en}}</ref> He was sworn in on March 11, 2021, by Assistant Attorney General for Administration Lee Lofthus.<ref name="SwornIn">{{Cite tweet |number=1370023440904716291 |user=TheJusticeDept |title=Judge Merrick Garland takes his oath of office as the 86th Attorney General of the United States as he is sworn in by Assistant Attorney General for Administration Lee Lofthus. |date=March 11, 2021 |access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref>
+The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 15–7 to advance Garland's nomination to the Senate floor,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Senate committee advances Merrick Garland's nomination for attorney general|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-committee-advances-garland-nomination-attorney-general-n1259139|access-date=2021-03-01|website=NBC News|first=Rebecca|last=Shabad|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Higgins|first=Tucker|date=2021-03-01|title=Merrick Garland's nomination to be attorney general advances to full Senate|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/01/merrick-garland-attorney-general-nomination-advances-in-the-senate.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> and on March 10, the Senate confirmed Garland's nomination by a vote of 70–30.<ref name=GarlandConfirmed/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=117&session=1&vote=00114 |title=On the Nomination (Confirmation: Merrick Brian Garland, of Maryland, to be Attorney General) |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021-03-10 |website=U.S. Senate |access-date=2021-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Alex|last=Rogers|date=March 10, 2021|title=Senate confirms Merrick Garland as attorney general|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/10/politics/garland-senate-confirmation-vote/index.html|access-date=March 11, 2021|work=[[CNN]]|language=en}}</ref> He was sworn in on March 11, 2021, by Assistant Attorney General for Administration Lee Lofthus.<ref name="SwornIn">{{Cite tweet |number=1370023440904716291 |user=TheJusticeDept |title=Judge Merrick Garland takes his oath of office as the 86th Attorney General of the United States as he is sworn in by Assistant Attorney General for Administration Lee Lofthus. |date=March 11, 2021 |access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref>
 ===Tenure===