The Senate Judiciary Committee voted on Monday to advance President Joe Biden's nomination of Judge Merrick Garlandfor attorney general, setting up his confirmation before the full Senate.

The vote was 15 to 7 with all Democratic senators and four Republicans in favor of the nominee.

Garland, the former chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, has been praised by members of both parties for his intellect and integrity.

He pledged in his nomination hearing last month to "fend off any effort by anyone" to politically influence the Justice Department's investigations, and that his first priority would be to fully prosecute the "heinous" crimes committed in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6.

Last edited by Spunky (3/01/2021 3:07 pm)