Garland will sit out cases during nomination

Merrick Garland will sit out all of cases on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit — where he serves as chief judge — throughout his Supreme Court nomination, the court clerk said in a statement Thursday.

“As a consequence of his Supreme Court nomination, Chief Judge Garland will cease participating in cases and matters but will continue with his administrative duties as Chief Judge and as a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States,” said Clerk of Court Mark Langer, reading a prepared statement.

{mosads}Garland, 63, is a 19-year veteran of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

His nomination to the Supreme Court by President Obama has ignited a contentious battle after Republicans vowed not to hold a confirmation hearing or vote.

Garland has reportedly been busy this week meeting with Democrats, who want to keep the battle in the spotlight through the Senate’s two-week recess. 

The National Law Journal reported that Garland has heard arguments in 42 cases this term and last sat for arguments on Feb. 8.

The court has yet to rule in 15 cases Garland was a part of.