National Association of Women Lawyers Finds Judge Merrick Garland “Well-Qualified” for the Position of Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The National Association of Women Lawyers (“NAWL”) Supreme Court
Committee has completed an extensive evaluation of the qualifications
and background of the Honorable Merrick Garland, President Obama’s
nominee to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court and delivered that
evaluation to all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Based
on its review of over 330 opinions and dissents authored by Judge
Garland and articles authored or coauthored by him, its interviews of
dozens of individuals, and its consideration of the information publicly
available as of the date of its letter to the Senate Judiciary
Committee, NAWL’s Supreme Court Committee concluded that Judge Garland
is “well-qualified” for the position of Associate Justice.
“Well-qualified” is the highest rating that the Committee is authorized
to confer upon a nominee.

On March 16, 2016, President Obama announced his nomination of Judge
Garland. The NAWL Supreme Court Committee, which includes a
distinguished array of law professors, appellate practitioners,
corporate counsel, and non-profit lawyers, convened immediately to do
the work of reviewing Judge Garland’s credentials. Specifically, the
Committee reviewed all of Judge Garland’s publicly available writings
and decisions and conducted in-depth personal interviews with key
individuals who have information regarding Judge Garland, his various
professional roles, and his treatment of litigants, attorneys,
employees, and colleagues, particularly those who are women.

Although the Committee emphasized a review of cases that might be of
particular importance to women, the members of the Committee did not
limit their review, focusing on a wide range of criminal and civil
issues. The Committee concluded that Judge Garland consistently
displayed both a superior intellect and a comprehensive understanding of
the issues with which he was presented. The Committee found his opinions
well written, his ability to analyze statutory and case law excellent,
and his judicial reasoning sound and unbiased.

The Committee’s interviews persuaded it that Judge Garland is an
excellent judge, a brilliant legal mind, thoughtful, extremely hard
working, highly prepared, thorough, open-minded, fair, and committed to
reaching the correct result as dictated by the applicable law. He was
described as a consensus builder with a high degree of integrity.
Interviewees noted his high level of respect and regard for women, his
commitment to equality and equal opportunity in his workplaces, and his
commitment to making decisions without regard to the gender of the
litigants. Interviewees also affirmed the importance Judge Garland
placed on treating litigants and counsel before him, including women,
with the utmost respect and professionalism. The Committee was impressed
by Judge Garland’s commitment to hiring and mentoring female law clerks,
which carries increased importance given that his clerks have a high
rate of success in their applications for US Supreme Court clerkships.

Based on its review of the written record and information derived from
interviewees, the NAWL Supreme Court Committee is confident that Judge
Garland has demonstrated the intellectual and analytic talent, judicial
temperament, commitment to the rule of law, and professional demeanor
required to serve on our Nation’s highest court.

Members of the NAWL Committee for the Evaluation of Supreme Court
Nominees are appointed by the President of NAWL. The Committee
independently reviews and evaluates the qualifications of each
Presidential nominee to the United States Supreme Court with an emphasis
on laws and decisions regarding women’s rights and those that have a
special impact on women.

Committee members include: Co-Chair JoAnne Epps, Dean, Temple
University Beasley School of Law; Co-Chair Ramona Romero, General
Counsel, Princeton University; Readers Subcommittee Chair Margaret
Drew, Associate Professor, Director of Clinics and Experiential
Learning, University of Massachusetts School of Law; Coordination
Subcommittee Chair Wendy Wen Yun Chang, Partner, Hinshaw &
Culbertson LLP; Dolores Atencio, Visiting Scholar, University of
Denver; Janet Bivens, Former Corporate Counsel, DuPont; Meryl
Chertoff, Executive Director, Aspen Institute; Sharla Frost,
Partner, Tucker Ellis; Romie Griesmer, Supervising
Attorney/Lecturer at Law, Widener University Delaware Law School; Lisa
Horowitz, Founder and Principal Advisor, Attorney Talent Strategy
Group; Roberta Leibenberg, Senior Partner; Fine Kaplan and Black
R.P.C.; Deborah Malamud, AnBryce Professor of Law, New York
University School of Law; Judith Miller, Former Director, Senior
Vice President, and General Counsel, Bechtel Group, Inc.; Paulette
Morgan Mara, Partner, Schoeman Updike & Kaufman LLP; Suzette
Recinos, General Counsel, Daymon Worldwide; Collin Udell, Of
Counsel, Jackson Lewis P.C.; Marisa Van Saanen, Associate,
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom LLP.

The mission of the National Association of Women Lawyers is to
provide leadership, a collective voice, and essential resources to
advance women in the legal profession and advocate for the equality of
women under the law. Since 1899, NAWL has been empowering women in the
legal profession, cultivating a diverse membership dedicated to
equality, mutual support, and collective success. If you are not already
a member, please considering joining. NAWL welcomes the membership of
individual attorneys, including private practice, corporate, academic,
government and non-profit attorneys, and groups, including law firms,
corporate legal departments, law schools, and bar associations. Learn
more at www.nawl.org.

Contacts

National Association of Women Lawyers
Caitlin Kepple, 312-988-6186
kepplec@nawl.org