Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the political composition of the Senate when Merrick Garland was initially confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals?
What was the political composition of the Senate when Merrick Garland was initially confirmed to the United States Court of Appeals?
- The Senate was controlled by a Democratic majority.
- The Senate was controlled by a coalition of Democrats and Independents.
- The Senate was equally divided between Democrats and Republicans.
- The Senate was controlled by a Republican majority. (correct)
Which of the following best describes Merrick Garland's academic background?
Which of the following best describes Merrick Garland's academic background?
- He graduated _summa cum laude_ from Harvard College and was editor of the Harvard Law Review.
- He was valedictorian of his class at Princeton College and graduated _magna cum laude_ from Harvard Law School.
- He was valedictorian of his class at Harvard College and graduated _magna cum laude_ from Harvard Law School. (correct)
- He graduated _summa cum laude_ from Yale Law School and was editor of the Yale Law Review.
In what capacity did Merrick Garland serve in the Justice Department prior to his appointment to the bench?
In what capacity did Merrick Garland serve in the Justice Department prior to his appointment to the bench?
- He served as an advisor to the Attorney General on national security matters.
- He served as a solicitor general.
- He directed the government’s prosecution of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols. (correct)
- He was the lead attorney in several landmark civil rights cases.
Which of the following actions did President Barack Obama take following the death of Antonin Scalia?
Which of the following actions did President Barack Obama take following the death of Antonin Scalia?
What distinguished Antonin Scalia's judicial philosophy on the U.S. Supreme Court?
What distinguished Antonin Scalia's judicial philosophy on the U.S. Supreme Court?
Flashcards
Antonin Scalia
Antonin Scalia
Leading conservative justice on the U.S. Supreme Court who died in February 2016.
Merrick Garland
Merrick Garland
President Obama's nominee to replace Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
The court where Merrick Garland served as chief judge before being nominated to the Supreme Court.
William Clinton
William Clinton
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Oklahoma City Bombing Prosecution
Oklahoma City Bombing Prosecution
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Study Notes
- On February 13, 2016, Antonin Scalia, the leading conservative justice on the U.S. Supreme Court, died.
- A month later, President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland, chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to replace Scalia.
- Judge Garland had served on that court since his appointment by President William Clinton in 1997.
- He was confirmed by a Republican-controlled Senate in a 76–23 vote, with a majority of Republican senators supporting him.
- Garland was valedictorian of his class at Harvard College and graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School.
- Prior to his appointment to the bench, he had clerked for Supreme Court Justice William Brennan.
- Garland served in the Justice Department, where he directed the government’s prosecution of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols for the 1994 terrorist bombing at the Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
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Description
This section provides an overview of Merrick Garland's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court following the death of Antonin Scalia in 2016. Garland, a highly respected judge, was nominated by President Barack Obama but faced political opposition. His background includes serving as chief judge and his involvement in significant legal cases.
