Announcing the nomination of Merrick Garland. President barack obama good morning. Verybody please have a seat. Of the many powers and responsibilities that the constitution vests in the few are more consequential than appointing a Supreme Court justice particularly one that succeeds Justice Scalia one of the most influential jurrists of our time. The men and women who sit on the Supreme Court are the final arbiters of american law. They safeguard our rights. They ensure that our system is one of laws and not men. Theyre charged with the essential task of applying principles put to paper more than two centuries ago to some of the most challenging questions of our time. So this is not a responsibility that i take lightly. The decision that requires me to set aside shortterm expediency and narrow politics so as to maintain faith with our founders and perhaps more importantly with future generations. Thats why over the past several weeks ive done my best to set up a rigorous and comprehensive process. Ive sought the advice of republican and democratic members of congress. Weve reached out to every member of the Senate Judiciary committee to constitutional scholars, to advocacy groups, to bar associations representing an array of interests and opinions from all across the spectrum. And today after completing this exhaustive process, ive made my decision. Ive selected a nominee whose widely recognized not only as one of americas sharpest legal minds but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even handedness, and exlenls. These qualities and his long commitment to Public Service have earned him the respect and admiration of leaders from both sides of the aisle. He will ultimately bring that same character to bear on the Supreme Court. An institution in which he is uniquely prepared to serve immediately. Today i am nominating chief judge merrick bryan garland to join the Supreme Court. [applause] now, in Law Enforcement circles and in the Legal Community at large, judge garland needs no introduction. But id like to take a moment to introduce merrick to the American People. He was born and raised in land of lincoln, in my hometown of chicago and my home state of illinois. His mother volunteered in the community. His father ran a Small Business out of their home. Inheriting that work ethic, merrick became valedictorian of his public high school. He earned a scholarship to harvard, where he graduated suma cum laude and graduated law school by working as a tutor, by stocking shoes in a shoe store, and in what is always a painful moment for any young man by selling his comic book collection. [laughter] been there. Merrick graduated from harvard law and the early years of his early career bear all the traditional marks of excellence. He clerked for two of president eisenhowers judicial employees first for a legendary judge on the Second Circuit judge Henry Friendly and then for Supreme CourtJustice William brennan. Following his clerkships, merrick joined a highly regarded law firm where the practice focused on litigation and pro bono representation of disadvantaged americans. Within four years he earned a partnership. The dream of most lawyers. But in 1989 just months after that achievement, merrick made a highly unusual career decision. He walked away from a comfortable and lucrative law practice to return to Public Service. Merrick accepted a low level job as a federal prosecutor in president george h. W. Bushs administration, took a 50 a pay cut, traded in his elegant Partners Office for a windowless closet that smelled of stale cigarette smoke. This is a time when crime here in washington had reached epidemic proportions and he wanted to help. He quickly made a name for himself going after corrupt politicians and violent criminals. His Sterling Record as a prosecutor led him to the Justice Department where he oversaw some of the most significant prosecutions in the 1990s including overseeing every aspect of the federal response to the lokse bombing. In the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing act of terror when 168 people, many of them small commirn, were murdered, merrick had one evening to say goodbye to his own young daughters before he boarded a plane to Oklahoma City and he would remain there for weeks. He worked side by side with first responders, rescue workers, local and federal Law Enforcement. He led the investigation and supervised the prosecution that brought Timothy Mcveigh to justice. But perhaps most important is the way he did it. Throughout the process, merrick took pains to do everything by the book. When people offered to turn over evidence voluntarily, he refused, taking the harder route of obtaining the proper subpoenas instead. Because merrick would take no chances that someone who murdered innocent americans might go free on a technicality. Merrick also made a concerted effort to reach out to the victims and their families. Updating them frequently on the cases progress. Everywhere he went, he carried with him in his brief case the program from the Memorial Service with each of the victims names inside, a constant, searing reminder of why he had to succeed. Judge garland has often referred to his work on the Oklahoma City case as, and i quote, the most important thing i have ever done in my life. And through it all, he never lost touch with that community that he served. Its no surprise then that soon after his work in Oklahoma City merrick was nominated to whats often called the Second Highest Court in the land, the d. C. Circuit court. During that process, during that confirmation process, he earned overwhelming bipartisan praise from senators and legal experts alike. Republican senator oren hatch who was then chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee supported his nomination. Back then he said, in all honesty i would like to see one person come to this floor and say one reason why Merrick Garland does not deserve this position. He actually cused fellow Senate Republicans trying to obstruct merricks confirmation of laying politics with judges. He has since said judge garland would be a consensus nominee for the supre court who would be very well supported by all sides and there would be no question merrick would be confirmed with bipartisan support. Ultimately merrick was confirmed to the d. C. Circuit. The Second Highest Court in the land. With votes from a majority of democrats and a majority of republicans. Three years ago he was elevated to chief judge. And in his 19 years on the d. C. Circuit, judge garland has brought his trademark diligence, compassion, and unwavering regard for the rule f law to his work. On a Circuit Court known for strong minded judges on both ends of the spectrum judge garland has earned a track record of building consensus as a thoughtful, fair minded judge who follows the law. He has shown a rare ability to bring together odd couples, assemble unlikely coalitions, persuade colleagues with wide ranging judicial philosophies to sign on to his opinions. This record on the bench speaks i believe to judge garlands fundamental temperament, his insistence that all views eserve a respectful hearing. His habit to borrow a phrase from former Justice John Paul stevens of understanding before disagreeing and then disagreeing without being disgreeble. That speaks to his ability to persuade. To respond to the the concerns of others with sound evidence and air tight logic. As our current chief justice of the Supreme Court john roberts once said, any time judge garland disagrees, you know oure in a difficult area. At the same time chief judge garland is more than just a brilliant legal mind. He is someone who has a keen understanding that justice is about more of an abstract legal theory, more than some footnote in a dusty case book. His life experience, his experience in places like Oklahoma City informs his view that the law is more than an intellectual exercise. He understands the way law affects the daily reality of peoples lives in a big, complicated democracy and in rapidly changing times. And throughout his jurisprudence runs a common thread, a dedication to protecting the basic rights of every american, a conviction that in a democracy powerful voices must not be allowed to rowned out the voices of every day americans. To find someone with such a long career of Public Service marked by complex and sensitive issues, to find someone who just about everyone not only respects but genuinely likes, that is rare. That speaks to Merrick Garland not just as a lawyer but as a man. People respect the way he treats others. His genuine courtesy and respect for his colleagues and those who come before his court. They admire his civic mindedness mentoring as clerks throughout his careers urging them to use their legal frame to serve their communities, setting his own example by tutoring a young student at a northeast d. C. Elementary school each year for the past 18 years. Theyre moved by his deep devotion to his family. Lynn, his wife of nearly 30 years, and their two daughters, becky and jessica. As a family, they indulge their love of hiking and skiing and canoeing and their love of america by visiting our ational parks. People respect merricks deep and abiding passion for protecting our most basic constitutional rights. It is a passion im told manifested itself at an early age and one story is indicative of this, notable. As valedictorian of his High School Class e had to deliver a commencement address. The other student speaker spoke first and unleashed a fiery critique of the vietnam war. Fearing the controversy that might result several parents decided to unplug the sound system and the rest of the students speech was muffled. Merrick didnt necessarily agree with the tobe of his classmates tone of his classmates remarks nor his choice of topics for that day but stirred by the sight of a fellow students voice being silenced he tossed aside his prepared remarks and delivered instead on the spot a passionate, impromptu defense of our First Amendment rights. It was the beginning of a life long career as a lawyer and a prosecutor and as a judge devoted to protecting the rights of others. He has done that work with decency and humanity and common sense and a common touch. Im proud that hell continue that work on our nations highest court. I said i would take this process seriously and i did. I chose a serious man and exemplary judge, Merrick Garland. Over my seven years as president in all my conversations with senators from both parties, in which i asked their views on qualified Supreme Court nominees, this includes the previous two seats that i had to fill, the one name that has come up repeatedly from republicans and democrats alike is Merrick Garland. Now, i recognize that we haven erd the political season or perhaps these days it never ends. A political season that is even noisier and more volatile than usual. I know republicans will point to democrats who made it hard for republican president s to get their nominees confirmed. And theyre not wrong about that. Theres been politics involved in nominations in the past, although it should be pointed out that in each of those instances democrats ultimately confirmed a nominee put forward by a republican president. I also know that because of Justice Scalias out sized role on the court and in american law and the fact that americans are closely divided on a number it sues before the court, is tempting to make this confirmation process simply an extension of our divided politics. The squabbling thats going on in the news every day. But to go down that path would be wrong. T would be a betrayal of our best traditions. And a betrayal of the vision of our founding documents. At a time when our politics are so polarized, at a time when norms and customs of political rhetoric and courtesy and comedy are so often treated like theyre disposable, this is precisely the time when we should play it straight and treat the process of appointing a Supreme Court justice with the seriousness and care it deserves. Because our Supreme Court really is unique. Its supposed to be above politics. It has to be. And it should stay that way. To suggest that someone is qualified and respected as Merrick Garland doesnt even deserve a hearing, let alone an up or down vote to join an institution as important as our Supreme Court when twothirds of americans believe otherwise, that would be unprecedented. To suggest that someone who has served his country with honor and dignity, with a distinguished track record of delivering justice for the American People, might be treated as one republican leader stated as a political pinata, that cant be right. Tomorrow judge garland will travel to the hill to begin meeting with senators oneonone. I simply ask republicans in the senate to give him a fair hearing. Nd then an up or down vote if you doesnt it might be an abdication of the senates constitutional duty. It will indicate a process for nominating and confirming udges that is beyond repair. It will mean everything is subject to most partisan of politics. Everything. It will provoke an endless cycle of more tit for tat and make it increasingly impossible to carry resident out their function. The reputation of the Supreme Court will inevitably suffer. Faith in our Justice System will inevitably suffer. Our democracy will ultimately uffer as well. I have fulfilled my constitutional duty. Now its time for the senate to do theirs. President s do not stop working in the final year of their term. Neither should a senator. I know that tomorrow the senate will take a break and leave town on recess for two weeks. My ernest hope is that senators take that time to reflect on the importance of this process to our democracy. Not whats expedient. Not whats happening at the moment. What does this mean for our institutions . For our common life . The stakes, the consequences, the seriousness of the job we all swore an oath to do. And when they returned, i hope that theyll act in a bipartisan fashion. I hope theyre fair. Thats all. I hope they are fair. As they did when they confirmed Merrick Garland to the d. C. Circuit, i ask that they confirm Merrick Garland now to the Supreme Court. So that he can take a seat in time to fully participate in its work f the American People this fall. He is the right man for the job. He deserves to be confirmed. I could not be prouder of the work that he has already done on behalf of the American People. He deserves our thanks and he deserves a fair hearing. And with that id like to invite judge garland to say a few words. [applause] judge garland thank you, mr. President. This is the greatest honor of my life other than lynn agreeing to marry me 28 years ago. Its also the greatest gift ive ever received, except, and there is another caveat, the birth of our daughters jessie and becky. As my parents taught me by both words and deeds, a life of Public Service is as much a gift to the person who serves as it is to those he is serving. And for me there could be no higher Public Service than serving as a member of the United StatesSupreme Court. My family deserves much of the credit for the path that led me here. My grandparents left the pale of settlement at the border of western russia and Eastern Europe in the early 1900s, fleeing antisemitism, and hoping to make a better life for their children in america. They settled in the midwest, eventually making their way to chicago. There my father, who ran the smallest of Small Businesses from a room in our basement took me with him as he made the trounds his customers, always impressing upon me the importance of hard work and fair dealing. There my mother headed the local p. T. A. 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. Even now my sisters honor that example by serving the children of their communities. I know that my mother is watching this on television and crying her eyes out. So are my sisters who have supported me in every step ive ever taken. I only wish that my father were here to see this today. I also wish that we hadnt told my older daughter to be so adventurous