Oversaw the Oklahoma City bombing in the unabomber cases. And a longtime judge on the federal bench. Of course, a lot at stake. Its an election year. Senate republicans vowed to block any nomination that comes from the president. Were going to talk about the pick with chuck todd in a moment. Justice correspondent pete williams. What do we know about him, and what message is the president sending with this pick . The message is that hes trying to make it harder for Senate Republicans to oppose someone who is not only wellliked but has a good reputation in town and a wide breadth of experience. We expect, matt and savannah, to hear from judge garland when the ceremony begins. Thats the usual tradition here. The white house is already saying he has more federal judicial experience than any other Supreme Court nominee in history. Pete, that brings me to chuck. Certainly, the white house is trying to put Senate Republicans who vowed to not even bring any nominee up for a vote in a tighter spot, in an election nonidealogical judge. This is the best youre going to get. Third time hes been vetted for a Supreme Court appointee. You and i were told six years ago, he is the perfect pick if they ever have to have one with a Republican Senate. Lo and behold, president obama has to deal with a Republican Senate. Probably the best way to compare him, this is the democratic partys version of kennedy, center left. As we were discussing, he didnt check a political box with this one. Being 63, this is the president not trying to change the court for an entire generation. He is putting real pressure on the republicans to stick by the pledge, that theyre not going to even have a hearing. Not even have a hearing, not even have a Courtesy Call meeting. What, pete, does judge garland do . Does he go up to capitol hill and knock on doors . Hell probably do that, yes. Theres been he will be wellcoached now by an entire white house operation with outside support to try to push this nominee through the senate. Anyway. Thatll be an extra of extra importance with this one. Republicans wont meet with him, much less hold a confirmation hearing or a floor vote. Theyll try to get the difference. Maybe pictures of him knocking on doors that wont open. But theyll certainly show the Courtesy Call meetings he will have with democrats. The democrats you can expect will play up the difference and say, look, the guy should be treated with more respect than this. Judge garland is well respected on both sides of the aisle. The white house is circulating quotes from senator oren, saying how much he loves garland in years past. There is going to be pressure. There are a group of republican senators running for reelection in swing states, blue states. I heard from people, these republicans are worried more about the obstruction of the court than donald trump and the scariness of that. The point of this is, heres what i think is going to happen, i think theyll have hearings. I think there is going to be a vote. Hell probably get over 50. If youre the president , if Hillary Clinton wins in november, garland is confirmed in december. Waiting for the president to come out to the rose garden. It was said recently that theyre going to put together a task force. This task force will be the most comprehensive comprehensive, judicial response effort in our partys history. This is why the white house went with garland. Hes been around washington a long time and has a thicker skin. It was key cht they. They had to find somebody who was durable politically. Who can handle what is going to be a hot house. Pete, you have a judge who is somebody who has 20 years of a judicial record to pick through. I think before i let you answer the question, i think were about to see president obama and judge garland, the nominee to the court, as they enter the white house rose garden for this ceremony. Everybody please have a seat. Of the many powers and responsibilities that the constitution vests in the presidency, few are more consequential than appointing a Supreme Court justice. Particularly one to succeed justice scalia, one of the most influential 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 methods. Theyre charged with the task of applying principles 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. Its a decision that requires me 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 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, bar associations representing an array of interests and opinions from all across the spectrum. Today, after completing this exhaustive process, ive made my decision. Im selected nominee who is 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 excellence. These qualities, and his long have earned him the respect and admiration of leaders from both sides of the aisle. Who will ultimately bring that character to bear on the Supreme Court. An institution in which he is uniquely prepared to serve immediately. Today, i am nominate ing chief judge Merrick Brian Garland to join the Supreme Court. [ applause ] id like to take a minute to introduce him to the American People, whom he already so ably serves. Land of lincoln, in my hometown of chicago, in 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 value edictorian of his public high school. He earned a scholarship to harvard. He put himself through Harvard 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, but selling his comic book collection. [ laughter ]. Its tough. Been there. Merrick graduated from harvard law. In the early years of his legal career, it bore the marks of excellence. Eisenhowers judicial appointees. Then Supreme CourtJustice William brennan. Following his clerkships, he 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. 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 the lowlevel job as a federal prosecutor in president george h. W. Bushs administration. He took a 50 pay cut. Traded in his Elegant Office for a windowless closet that smelled of stale cigarette smoke. It was a time when crime in washington had reached epidemic proportions and he wanted to help. He quickly made a name for 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 Oklahoma City bombing. In the aftermath of that act of terror, when 168 people, many of them small children, were murdered, merrick had one evening to say goodbye to his own young daughters before he boarded a plane to Oklahoma City. 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. Perhaps most important is the 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 briefcase 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. 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 hatch, 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 accused fellow Senate Republicans, trying to obstruct merricks confirmation, of playing politics with judges. He has since said that judge nominee for the Supreme Court, who would be very well supported by all sides and there would be no question that merrick would be confirmed with bipartisan support. Ultimately, merrick was confirmed to the d. C. Circuit. Second highest court in the land. With votes from a majority of democrats and from republicans. Three years ago, he was elevated to chief judge. In his 19 years on the d. C. Circuit, judge garland has brought his trademark diligence, compassion and unwavering regard for the rule of law to his work. On a Circuit Court known for strongminded judges, on both ends of the spectrum, judge garland has earned a track record of building consensus as a thoughtful, fairminded judge who follows the law. Bring together odd couples, assemble unlikely coalitions, persuade colleagues with wide ranging 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 deserve a respectful hearing. His habit, to borrow a phrase from former Justice John Paul stevens, of understanding before disagreeing. Then disagreeing without being disagreeable. It speaks to his ability to persuade. To respond to the concerns of others with sound arguments and airtight logic. As his former colleague on the d. C. Circuit and our current chief justice of the Supreme Court, john roberts, once said, any time judge garland disagrees, you know youre in a difficult area. At the same time, chief judge brilliant legal mind. Hes someone who has a keen understanding that justice is about more than abstract legal theory theory. More than a 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 thread, protecting the basic rights of every american. In a democracy, powerful voices must not be allowed to drown out the voices of everyday americans. To find someone with such a long career in Public Service, marked to find someone who just about everyone not only respects but genuinely likes, that is rare. It speaks to who 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 their careers, urging them to use their Legal Training to serve their communities. Setting his own example by tutoring a young student at a d. C. Elementary school each year for the past 18 years. Theyre moved by his deep devotion to his family. His wife of nearly 30 years and their two daughters, becky and jes jessie. As a family, they indulge their love of hiking, skiing, canoeing and love of america by visiting people respect merricks deep and abiding passion for protecting our most basic constitutional rights. Its a passion im told that manifested itself at an early age. One story is notable, indicative of this. As valedictorian of his high school class, he had to deliver a commencement address. The other student speaker that day spoke first and unleashed a firing critique of the vietnam war. Fearing the controversy that might result, parents decided to unplug the sound system. The rest of the students speech was muffled. Merrick didnt necessarily agree with the tone of his classmates remarks, nor the choice of topic, but stirred by a fellow students voice being silenced, he tossed aside his premare pared remarks and delivered a our First Amendment rights. It was the beginning of a lifelong career as a lawyer and a prosecutor and as a judge, 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, an 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 republicans and democrats alike, is Merrick Garland. Now, i recognize that we have entered the political season or, perhaps, these days, it never ends. A political season that is even noisier and more volatile than usual. I know that republicans will point to democrats who have made it hard for republican president s to get their nominees confirmed. 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 role on the court and in american law, and closely divided on a number of issues before the court, it 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. It 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 are treated like theyre disposable, this is precisely the time when we should play it straight. Treat the process of appointing a Supreme Court justice with the seriousness and care it because our Supreme Court really is unique. Its supposed to be above politics. It has to be. It should stay that way. To suggest that someone is qualified and respected as Merrick Garland, doesnt deserve a hearing, let alone an up or down vote, to join an institution like our Supreme Court, when 2 3 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 one on i simply ask republicans in the senate to give him a fair hearing. Then an up or down vote. If you dont, then it will not only be an add loss of duty, but itll be something beyond repair. Itll mean everything is subject to the most partisan of politics. Everything. It will provoke an endless cycle of more tit for tat and make it impossible for any president , democrat or republican, to carry out their constitutional function. The reputation of the Supreme Court will inevitably suffer. Faith in our Justice System will our democracy will ultimately suffer, 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 what does this mean for our institutions . For our common life . The stakes, the consequences, the seriousness of the job we when they re