Senator Carper Statement on the Nomination of Merrick Garland to Lead the Justice Department

Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del) released the following statement regarding President-elect Biden’s nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to serve as the next U.S. Attorney General.

“President-elect Joe Biden has made an excellent choice in nominating Chief Judge Merrick Garland, an experienced and principled judge, to restore independence and rebuild public trust in the Department of Justice as our next U.S. Attorney General. I know that there are so many exceptionally qualified individuals who were considered for this important role, including my friend Doug Jones. I know that my former colleague will continue the work that has defined his life — pursuing justice for every American — and that his fight will continue alongside this Administration and this Department. 

“In 2016, when President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court, I had the chance to meet and get to know Judge Garland beyond just the impressive credentials on his resume. I remember being struck by his humility. Even as a nominee to serve on the highest court in our land, he continued to serve his community as a mentor to elementary school students in Washington, D.C., something he had done for the last twenty years. His personal character is equally matched by his impeccable legal career and judicial record. For more than two decades, Judge Garland has served the American people on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, delivering justice and upholding the rule of law. He was confirmed to sit on this court with overwhelming support from both Democrats and Republicans alike. And while I believe that Judge Garland should be sitting on the Supreme Court and that seat was shamefully stolen for him, I know that he is an excellent choice for the critical role at the Department of Justice. At a time when our nation is greatly divided, Judge Garland’s leadership as a consensus builder which has earned him the respect from leaders on both sides of the aisle, will help bring our nation together.

“The same qualifications that made Judge Garland a standout nominee to sit on the highest court of the land remain unchanged. In this new role as Attorney General, Judge Garland will lead by doing what he has done on the bench throughout his career; he will continue to apply the law fairly and uphold our Constitution, without any display of favoritism. It will certainly be a tremendous and welcomed departure from what we have seen out of the Justice Department during these last four years under the Trump Administration. Merrick Garland will truly be an impartial lawyer for all Americans, not one man. We should be grateful Judge Garland is ready to serve our nation once more, and I urge my colleagues to promptly schedule a hearing to confirm him. I am confident Judge Garland will work tirelessly alongside the Biden-Harris Administration to boost morale in the Justice Department, restore integrity to the office of the Attorney General, and ensure our justice system fulfills its promise to truly deliver justice for all Americans.”