REMARKSBYTHEPRESIDENT

ANNOUNCINGJUDGEMERRICKGARLAND
ASHISNOMINEETOTHESUPREMECOURT

RoseGarden
11:04A.M.EDT

THEPRESIDENT:Goodmorning.Everybody,pleasehaveaseat.

OfthemanypowersandresponsibilitiesthattheConstitutionvestsinthepresidency,fewaremoreconsequential
thanappointingaSupremeCourtjusticeparticularlyonetosucceedJusticeScalia,oneofthemostinfluential
juristsofourtime.

ThemenandwomenwhositontheSupremeCourtarethefinalarbitersofAmericanlaw.Theysafeguardour
rights.Theyensurethatoursystemisoneoflawsandnotmen.Theyrechargedwiththeessentialtaskofapplying
principlesputtopapermorethantwocenturiesagotosomeofthemostchallengingquestionsofourtime.

SothisisnotaresponsibilitythatItakelightly.Itsadecisionthatrequiresmetosetasideshorttermexpediency
andnarrowpolitics,soastomaintainfaithwithourfoundersand,perhapsmoreimportantly,withfuture
generations.Thatswhy,overthepastseveralweeks,Ivedonemybesttosetuparigorousandcomprehensive
process.IvesoughttheadviceofRepublicanandDemocraticmembersofCongress.Wevereachedouttoevery
memberoftheSenateJudiciaryCommittee,toconstitutionalscholars,toadvocacygroups,tobarassociations,
representinganarrayofinterestsandopinionsfromallacrossthespectrum.

Andtoday,aftercompletingthisexhaustiveprocess,Ivemademydecision.Iveselectedanomineewhoiswidely
recognizednotonlyasoneofAmericassharpestlegalminds,butsomeonewhobringstohisworkaspiritof
decency,modesty,integrity,evenhandedness,andexcellence.Thesequalities,andhislongcommitmenttopublic
service,haveearnedhimtherespectandadmirationofleadersfrombothsidesoftheaisle.Hewillultimatelybring
thatsamecharactertobearontheSupremeCourt,aninstitutioninwhichheisuniquelypreparedtoserve
immediately.

Today,IamnominatingChiefJudgeMerrickBrianGarlandtojointheSupremeCourt.(Applause.)

Now,inlawenforcementcircles,andtheinthelegalcommunityatlarge,JudgeGarlandneedsnointroduction.But
IdliketotakeaminutetointroduceMerricktotheAmericanpeople,whomhealreadysoablyserves.

HewasbornandraisedintheLandofLincolninmyhometownofChicago,inmyhomestateofIllinois.His
mothervolunteeredinthecommunityhisfatherranasmallbusinessoutoftheirhome.Inheritingthatworkethic,
Merrickbecamevaledictorianofhispublichighschool.HeearnedascholarshiptoHarvard,wherehegraduated
summacumlaude.AndheputhimselfthroughHarvardLawSchoolbyworkingasatutor,bystockingshoesina
shoestore,and,inwhatisalwaysapainfulmomentforanyyoungman,bysellinghiscomicbookcollection.
(Laughter.)It'stough.Beenthere.(Laughter.)

MerrickgraduatedmagnacumlaudefromHarvardLaw,andtheearlyyearsofhislegalcareerbearallthe
traditionalmarksofexcellence.HeclerkedfortwoofPresidentEisenhowersjudicialappointeesfirstfora
legendaryjudgeontheSecondCircuit,JudgeHenryFriendly,andthenforSupremeCourtJusticeWilliamBrennan.

Followinghisclerkships,Merrickjoinedahighlyregardedlawfirm,withapracticefocusedonlitigationandpro
bonorepresentationofdisadvantagedAmericans.Withinfouryears,heearnedapartnershipthedreamofmost
lawyers.Butin1989,justmonthsafterthatachievement,Merrickmadeahighlyunusualcareerdecision.He
walkedawayfromacomfortableandlucrativelawpracticetoreturntopublicservice.

MerrickacceptedalowleveljobasafederalprosecutorinPresidentGeorgeH.W.Bushsadministration.Hetooka
50percentpaycut,tradedinhiselegantpartnersofficeforawindowlessclosetthatsmelledofstalecigarette
smoke.ThiswasatimewhencrimehereinWashingtonhadreachedepidemicproportions,andhewantedtohelp.
Andhequicklymadeanameforhimself,goingaftercorruptpoliticiansandviolentcriminals.

HissterlingrecordasaprosecutorledhimtotheJusticeDepartment,whereheoversawsomeofthemostsignificant
prosecutionsinthe1990sincludingoverseeingeveryaspectofthefederalresponsetotheOklahomaCity
bombing.Intheaftermathofthatactofterror,when168people,manyofthemsmallchildren,weremurdered,
MerrickhadoneeveningtosaygoodbyetohisownyoungdaughtersbeforeheboardedaplanetoOklahomaCity.
Andhewouldremainthereforweeks.Heworkedsidebysidewithfirstresponders,rescueworkers,localand
federallawenforcement.HeledtheinvestigationandsupervisedtheprosecutionthatbroughtTimothyMcVeighto
justice.

Butperhapsmostimportantisthewayhedidit.Throughouttheprocess,Merricktookpainstodoeverythingbythe
book.Whenpeopleofferedtoturnoverevidencevoluntarily,herefused,takingtheharderrouteofobtainingthe
propersubpoenasinstead,becauseMerrickwouldtakenochancesthatsomeonewhomurderedinnocentAmericans
mightgofreeonatechnicality.

Merrickalsomadeaconcertedefforttoreachouttothevictimsandtheirfamilies,updatingthemfrequentlyonthe
casesprogress.Everywherehewent,hecarriedwithhiminhisbriefcasetheprogramfromthememorialservice
witheachofthevictimsnamesinsideaconstant,searingreminderofwhyhehadtosucceed.

JudgeGarlandhasoftenreferredtohisworkontheOklahomaCitycaseas,andIquote,themostimportantthingI
haveeverdoneinmylife.Andthroughitall,heneverlosttouchwiththatcommunitythatheserved.

Itsnosurprisethen,thatsoonafterhisworkinOklahomaCity,Merrickwasnominatedtowhatsoftencalledthe
secondhighestcourtinthelandtheD.C.CircuitCourt.Duringthatprocess,duringthatconfirmationprocess,he
earnedoverwhelmingbipartisanpraisefromsenatorsandlegalexpertsalike.RepublicanSenatorOrrinHatch,who
wasthenchairmanoftheSenateJudiciaryCommittee,supportedhisnomination.Backthen,hesaid,Inall
honesty,IwouldliketoseeonepersoncometothisfloorandsayonereasonwhyMerrickGarlanddoesnotdeserve
thisposition.HeactuallyaccusedfellowSenateRepublicanstryingtoobstructMerricksconfirmationofplaying
politicswithjudges.AndhehassincesaidthatJudgeGarlandwouldbeaconsensusnomineefortheSupreme
Courtwhowouldbeverywellsupportedbyallsides,andtherewouldbenoquestionMerrickwouldbe
confirmedwithbipartisansupport.

Ultimately,MerrickwasconfirmedtotheD.C.Circuit,thesecondhighestcourtintheland,withvotesfroma
majorityofDemocratsandamajorityofRepublicans.Threeyearsago,hewaselevatedtoChiefJudge.Andinhis
19yearsontheD.C.Circuit,JudgeGarlandhasbroughthistrademarkdiligence,compassion,andunwavering
regardfortheruleoflawtohiswork.

Onacircuitcourtknownforstrongmindedjudgesonbothendsofthespectrum,JudgeGarlandhasearnedatrack
recordofbuildingconsensusasathoughtful,fairmindedjudgewhofollowsthelaw.Hesshownarareabilityto

bringtogetheroddcouples,assembleunlikelycoalitions,persuadecolleagueswithwiderangingjudicial
philosophiestosignontohisopinions.

Andthisrecordonthebenchspeaks,Ibelieve,toJudgeGarlandsfundamentaltemperamenthisinsistencethatall
viewsdeservearespectfulhearing.Hishabit,toborrowaphrasefromformerJusticeJohnPaulStevens,of
understandingbeforedisagreeing,andthendisagreeingwithoutbeingdisagreeable.Itspeakstohisabilityto
persuade,torespondtotheconcernsofotherswithsoundargumentsandairtightlogic.Ashisformercolleagueon
theD.C.Circuit,andourcurrentChiefJusticeoftheSupremeCourt,JohnRoberts,oncesaid,AnytimeJudge
Garlanddisagrees,youknowyoureinadifficultarea.

Atthesametime,ChiefJudgeGarlandismorethanjustabrilliantlegalmind.Hessomeonewhohasakeen
understandingthatjusticeisaboutmorethanabstractlegaltheorymorethansomefootnoteinadustycasebook.
HislifeexperiencehisexperienceinplaceslikeOklahomaCityinformshisviewthatthelawismorethanan
intellectualexercise.Heunderstandsthewaylawaffectsthedailyrealityofpeopleslivesinabig,complicated
democracy,andinrapidlychangingtimes.Andthroughouthisjurisprudencerunsacommonthreadadedication
toprotectingthebasicrightsofeveryAmericanaconvictionthatinademocracy,powerfulvoicesmustnotbe
allowedtodrownoutthevoicesofeverydayAmericans.

Tofindsomeonewithsuchalongcareerofpublicservice,markedbycomplexandsensitiveissuestofindsomeone
whojustabouteveryonenotonlyrespects,butgenuinelylikesthatisrare.AnditspeakstowhoMerrickGarland
isnotjustasalawyer,butasaman.

Peoplerespectthewayhetreatsothershisgenuinecourtesyandrespectforhiscolleaguesandthosewhocome
beforehiscourt.Theyadmirehiscivicmindednessmentoringhisclerksthroughouttheircareers,urgingthemto
usetheirlegaltrainingtoservetheircommunities,settinghisownexamplebytutoringayoungstudentata
NortheastD.C.elementaryschooleachyearforthepast18years.Theyremovedbyhisdeepdevotiontohisfamily
Lynn,hiswifeofnearly30years,andtheirtwodaughters,BeckyandJessie.Asafamily,theyindulgetheirlove
ofhikingandskiingandcanoeing,andtheirloveofAmericabyvisitingournationalparks.

PeoplerespectMerricksdeepandabidingpassionforprotectingourmostbasicconstitutionalrights.Itsapassion,
Imtold,thatmanifesteditselfatanearlyage.Andonestoryisindicativeofthis,isnotable.Asvaledictorianofhis
highschoolclass,hehadtodeliveracommencementaddress.Theotherstudentspeakerthatdayspokefirstand
unleashedafierycritiqueoftheVietnamWar.Fearingthecontroversythatmightresult,severalparentsdecidedto
unplugthesoundsystem,andtherestofthestudentsspeechwasmuffled.

AndMerrickdidntnecessarilyagreewiththetoneofhisclassmatesremarks,norhischoiceoftopicforthatday.
Butstirredbythesightofafellowstudentsvoicebeingsilenced,hetossedasidehispreparedremarksand
deliveredinstead,onthespot,apassionate,impromptudefenseofourFirstAmendmentrights.

Itwasthebeginningofalifelongcareerasalawyer,andaprosecutor,andasajudgedevotedtoprotectingthe
rightsofothers.Andhehasdonethatworkwithdecencyandhumanityandcommonsense,andacommontouch.
AndImproudthathellcontinuethatworkonournationshighestcourt.

IsaidIwouldtakethisprocessseriouslyandIdid.Ichoseaseriousmanandanexemplaryjudge,Merrick
Garland.OvermysevenyearsasPresident,inallmyconversationswithsenatorsfrombothpartiesinwhichIasked
theirviewsonqualifiedSupremeCourtnomineesthisincludestheprevioustwoseatsthatIhadtofilltheone
namethathascomeuprepeatedly,fromRepublicansandDemocratsalike,isMerrickGarland.

Now,Irecognizethatwehaveenteredthepoliticalseasonorperhaps,thesedaysitneverendsapolitical
seasonthatisevennoisierandmorevolatilethanusual.IknowthatRepublicanswillpointtoDemocratswhove
madeithardforRepublicanPresidentstogettheirnomineesconfirmed.Andtheyrenotwrongaboutthat.Theres
beenpoliticsinvolvedinnominationsinthepast.Althoughitshouldbepointedoutthat,ineachofthoseinstances,
DemocratsultimatelyconfirmedanomineeputforwardbyaRepublicanPresident.

IalsoknowthatbecauseofJusticeScaliasoutsizedroleontheCourtandinAmericanlaw,andthefactthat
AmericansarecloselydividedonanumberofissuesbeforetheCourt,itistemptingtomakethisconfirmation
processsimplyanextensionofourdividedpoliticsthesquabblingthatsgoingoninthenewseveryday.Butto
godownthatpathwouldbewrong.Itwouldbeabetrayalofourbesttraditions,andabetrayalofthevisionofour
foundingdocuments.

Atatimewhenourpoliticsaresopolarized,atatimewhennormsandcustomsofpoliticalrhetoricandcourtesy
andcomityaresooftentreatedliketheyredisposablethisispreciselythetimewhenweshouldplayitstraight,
andtreattheprocessofappointingaSupremeCourtjusticewiththeseriousnessandcareitdeserves.Becauseour
SupremeCourtreallyisunique.Itssupposedtobeabovepolitics.Ithastobe.Anditshouldstaythatway.

TosuggestthatsomeoneasqualifiedandrespectedasMerrickGarlanddoesntevendeserveahearing,letalonean
upordownvote,tojoinaninstitutionasimportantasourSupremeCourt,whentwothirdsofAmericansbelieve
otherwisethatwouldbeunprecedented.

Tosuggestthatsomeonewhohasservedhiscountrywithhonoranddignity,withadistinguishedtrackrecordof
deliveringjusticefortheAmericanpeople,mightbetreated,asoneRepublicanleaderstated,asapoliticalpiata
thatcantberight.

Tomorrow,JudgeGarlandwilltraveltotheHilltobeginmeetingwithsenators,oneonone.Isimplyask
RepublicansintheSenatetogivehimafairhearing,andthenanupordownvote.Ifyoudont,thenitwillnotonly
beanabdicationoftheSenatesconstitutionalduty,itwillindicateaprocessfornominatingandconfirmingjudges
thatisbeyondrepair.Itwillmeaneverythingissubjecttothemostpartisanofpoliticseverything.Itwill
provokeanendlesscycleofmoretitfortat,andmakeitincreasinglyimpossibleforanyPresident,Democrator
Republican,tocarryouttheirconstitutionalfunction.ThereputationoftheSupremeCourtwillinevitablysuffer.
Faithinourjusticesystemwillinevitablysuffer.Ourdemocracywillultimatelysuffer,aswell.

Ihavefulfilledmyconstitutionalduty.NowitstimefortheSenatetodotheirs.Presidentsdonotstopworkingin
thefinalyearoftheirterm.Neithershouldasenator.

IknowthattomorrowtheSenatewilltakeabreakandleavetownonrecessfortwoweeks.Myearnesthopeisthat
senatorstakethattimetoreflectontheimportanceofthisprocesstoourdemocracynotwhatsexpedient,not
whatshappeningatthemoment,whatdoesthismeanforourinstitutions,forourcommonlifethestakes,the
consequences,theseriousnessofthejobweallsworeanoathtodo.

Andwhentheyreturn,Ihopethattheyllactinabipartisanfashion.Ihopetheyrefair.Thatsall.Ihopetheyare
fair.AstheydidwhentheyconfirmedMerrickGarlandtotheD.C.Circuit,IaskthattheyconfirmMerrickGarland
nowtotheSupremeCourt,sothathecantakehisseatintimetofullyparticipateinitsworkfortheAmerican
peoplethisfall.Heistherightmanforthejob.Hedeservestobeconfirmed.Icouldnotbeprouderofthework
thathehasalreadydoneonbehalfoftheAmericanpeople.Hedeservesourthanksandhedeservesafairhearing.

Andwiththat,IdliketoinviteJudgeGarlandtosayafewwords.(Applause.)


JUDGEGARLAND:Thankyou,Mr.President.ThisisthegreatesthonorofmylifeotherthanLynnagreeingto
marryme28yearsago.ItsalsothegreatestgiftIveeverreceivedexceptandtheresanothercaveatthebirth
ofourdaughters,JessieandBecky.

Asmyparentstaughtmebybothwordsanddeeds,alifeofpublicserviceisasmuchagifttotheperson
whoservesasitistothoseheisserving.Andforme,therecouldbenohigherpublicservicethanservingasa
memberoftheUnitedStatesSupremeCourt.

Myfamilydeservesmuchofthecreditforthepaththatledmehere.MygrandparentsleftthePaleof
SettlementattheborderofWesternRussianandEasternEuropeintheearly1900s,fleeingantiSemitism,and
hopingtomakeabetterlifefortheirchildreninAmerica.TheysettledintheMidwest,eventuallymakingtheirway
toChicago.

There,myfather,whoranthesmallestofsmallbusinessesfromaroominourbasement,tookmewithhimashe
madetheroundstohiscustomers,alwaysimpressinguponmetheimportanceofhardworkandfairdealing.There,
mymotherheadedthelocalPTAandschoolboardanddirectedavolunteerservicesagency,allthewhileinstilling
inmysisterandmetheunderstandingthatservicetothecommunityisaresponsibilityaboveallothers.Evennow,
mysistershonorthatexamplebyservingthechildrenoftheircommunities.

Iknowthatmymotheriswatchingthisontelevisionandcryinghereyesout.(Laughter.)Soaremy
sisters,whohavesupportedmeineverystepIhaveevertaken.Ionlywishthatmyfatherwereheretoseethis
today.Ialsowishthatwehadnttaughtmyolderdaughtertobesoadventurousthatshewouldbehikinginthe
mountains,outofcellservicerange(laughter)whenthePresidentcalled.(Laughter.)

Itwasthesenseofresponsibilitytoserveacommunity,instilledbymyparents,thatledmetoleavemylaw
firmtobecomealineprosecutorin1989.There,oneofmyfirstassignmentswastoassistintheprosecutionofa
violentgangthathadcomedowntotheDistrictfromNewYork,tookoverapublichousingprojectandterrorized
theresidents.Thehardestjobwefacedwaspersuadingmothersandgrandmothersthatiftheytestified,wewould
beabletokeepthemsafeandconvictthegangmembers.Wesucceededonlybyconvincingwitnessesandvictims
thattheycouldtrustthattheruleoflawwouldprevail.

Yearslater,whenIwenttoOklahomaCitytoinvestigatethebombingoftheFederalBuilding,Isawup
closethedevastationthatcanhappenwhensomeoneabandonsthejusticesystemasawayofresolvinggrievances,
andinsteadtakesmattersintohisownhands.Onceagain,Isawtheimportanceofassuringvictimsandfamiliesthat
thejusticesystemcouldwork.Wepromisedthatwewouldfindtheperpetrators,thatwewouldbringthemto
justice,andthatwewoulddoitinawaythathonoredtheConstitution.ThepeopleofOklahomaCitygaveustheir
trust,andwedideverythingwecouldtoliveuptoit.

Trustthatjusticewillbedoneinourcourtswithoutprejudiceorpartisanshipiswhat,inalargepart,distinguishes
thiscountryfromothers.Peoplemustbeconfidentthatajudgesdecisionsaredeterminedbythelaw,andonlythe
law.Forajudgetobeworthyofsuchtrust,heorshemustbefaithfultotheConstitutionandtothestatutespassed
bytheCongress.Heorshemustputasidehispersonalviewsorpreferences,andfollowthelawnotmakeit.

FidelitytotheConstitutionandthelawhasbeenthecornerstoneofmyprofessionallife,anditsthe
hallmarkofthekindofjudgeIhavetriedtobeforthepast18years.IftheSenateseesfittoconfirmmetothe
positionforwhichIhavebeennominatedtoday,Ipromisetocontinueonthatcourse.


Mr.President,itsagreatprivilegetobenominatedbyafellowChicagoan.Iamgratefulbeyondwordsfor
thehonoryouhavebestoweduponme.(Applause.)

END