Former Attorney General and Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals Merrick B. Garland Returns to Arnold & Porter
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 23, 2025 — Arnold & Porter is pleased to announce that former Attorney General and Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Merrick B. Garland, has returned to the firm as a partner in the Appellate & Supreme Court practice group, resident in Washington, D.C. During his time at the firm, Judge Garland’s practice involved civil and criminal litigation, antitrust, and administrative law.
In welcoming Judge Garland, Ellen Kaye Fleishhacker, Global Co-Chair of Arnold & Porter, said: “Judge Garland is a distinguished lawyer and jurist whose experience, judgement and intellect will enable him to serve as a valued counselor to clients on a wide range of significant and high-stakes matters.”
Michael Daneker, Global Co-Chair of Arnold & Porter, added: “Judge Garland’s distinguished career on the bench and in the government will add a unique dimension to Arnold & Porter’s sophisticated regulatory and litigation practices, particularly in the areas of appellate, complex litigation, antitrust, and white-collar defense.”
In joining the firm, Judge Garland said: “It is an honor to return to Arnold & Porter, where I first learned how to be a lawyer and about the important role lawyers can play in ensuring the rule of law. The firm has a culture of excellence, and I look forward to working with its exceptional group of highly sophisticated attorneys.”
Before his tenure as Attorney General, Judge Garland served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from 1997 through 2020. He was the Chief Judge of the Circuit from 2013 to 2020. Prior to his service on the federal bench, Judge Garland had a distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Justice, serving under five Attorneys General appointed by both Democratic and Republican administrations. His positions included Special Assistant to the Attorney General, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division, and Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General. He also taught antitrust at Harvard Law School and published law review articles on antitrust and administrative law.
Judge Garland earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude, where he was an articles editor of the Harvard Law Review. He received his A.B. from Harvard University, summa cum laude. He served as a law clerk to Justice William J. Brennan Jr. of the U.S. Supreme Court and Judge Henry Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
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