Washington (AP) —Merrick Garland finally made his debut in the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Instead of a black robe of justice, he wears striped trousers and a jacket with a tail reserved for a government lawyer who appears in front of the courtroom.
The former High Court candidate was there to participate in a tradition that dates back more than 200 years: was introduced to the judge as the Attorney General of the State.
Among the nine judges looking down on Garland from the bench was a former colleague and a man who was finally appointed to a seat left vacant due to the death of Judge Antonin Scalia. Republicans have blocked Garland from holding a hearing after then-President Barack Obama nominated him for a slot in 2016.
But when Garland felt the urge to tell Judge Neil Gorsuch, “I’m sorry, you’re sitting in my seat,” he restrained himself. In fact, if Tuesday stood in front of the court that Garland was quite annoyed and might have attended with a lifelong promise, he didn’t show it in the minutes he spent in the marble pillar court.
Garland, accompanied by Elizabeth Prelogger, the Supreme Court attorney of the Biden administration, entered the court just before the debate began at 10 am. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the courtroom was virtually empty, with no public attendance, and few court officials and reporters. Both Garland and Prelogger wore masks because lawyers were required while not speaking in front of the judge.
Garland then greeted the lawyer for discussion. Garland then stood with the other audience while the Marshal announced the judge, when a buzzer sounded to signal the start of the court and the judge emerged from behind the maroon curtain behind the bench. Was there. And a quasi-judge of the US Supreme Court. Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! “
The prelogger, who recently discussed two different abortion cases in front of a judge, took the podium and introduced the country’s 86th prosecutor-general.
“General Garland, on behalf of the Court, I welcome you as Chief Justice of the United States and as an officer of this Court. Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts said,” Before drawing a conclusion, “it is up to you. I have recognized a very important responsibility. “
Garland responded with only five words: “Thank you, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.” The moment was so short that he didn’t even remove the mask. Then he got out of court.
The advent of Garland has shown some sort of resurgence. A graduate of Harvard Law School was Judge William Brennan’s court clerk. He became a judge in the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1997, where he hung his robe and became a lawyer for President Joe Biden in 2021.
Garland’s term as a judge made Tuesday’s referral a special form. Former Garland lawyers are often elected judges as their own lawyers, and two of the current judges are former colleagues. Roberts was a judge in the same court from 2003 to 2005. Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who smiled widely through the introduction of the ceremony on Tuesday, was a colleague for more than a decade from 2006 to 2018. Judge Clarence Thomas has also appeared in the court since 1990. Until 1991.
Appearance in court may not be Garland’s last. Attorneys at the Attorney General’s office usually claim the government in the Supreme Court, but past Attorney Generals sometimes filed a case before retiring in the High Court.