Merrick Garland: Biden nominates Obama’s former Supreme Court nominee to serve as attorney general

President-elect announces latest nominee as Congress convenes to certify his victory

President-elect Joe Biden has nominated Judge Merrick Garland to serve as attorney general of the U.S. Justice Department, according to multiple reports. 

The judge was previously nominated by former President Barack Obama to serve on the Supreme Court, though he was blocked from the nomination process by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republicans on Capitol Hill.

News of the nomination comes as Congress convenes to certify the president-elect’s victory in the 2020 elections, and as the Georgia runoff elections appear to show gains for the Democratic Party.

Both Democratic candidates in the state have declared victories, though the Associated Press has not yet projected the wins. 

The shift in power would give Democrats control of the House, Senate and the White House, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote.

Mr Biden also intends to nominate Justice Department veterans Lisa Monaco as deputy attorney general and Kristen Clarke as the assistant attorney general to the Civil Rights Division, according to a source with knowledge of his decision.

Mr Garland, who has served on the federal appeals bench since 1997, is no stranger to the Justice Department.

Prior to becoming a judge, he worked as a federal prosecutor where he helped secure a conviction against Timothy McVeigh for the Oklahoma City bombing. He was also on the team that helped secure a conviction of former District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry for cocaine possession.

Mr Garland held other key posts at the Justice Department, including serving as principal deputy associate attorney general to Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick starting in 1994.

Additional reporting by Reuters