Judge Merrick B. Garland got teary-eyed as he accepted President Obama's Supreme Court nomination in a Rose Garden speech on Wednesday, calling the opportunity a "great privilege" for which he is "grateful beyond words." "This is the greatest honor of my life, other than Lynn agreeing to marry me 28 years ago," Garland said as he choked back tears. "I know my mother is watching this on television and crying her eyes out," he added. Garland, 63, is the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and a highly respected moderate judge. Obama is hopeful this pick will satisfy Republicans, who have vowed to block any Obama nominee in favor of letting the next president fill the vacancy left by the late Justice Antonin Scalia. President Obama Nominates Merrick Garland to Supreme Court after Antonin Scalia Death : 'This is the greatest honor of my life'. President Barack Obama has announced he is nominating veteran appeals court judge Merrick Garland to be the next US Supreme Court Justice. The Supreme Court vacancy follows the death of Justice Antonin Scalia last month at the age of 79. Judge Garland, 63, is the chief judge of the Washington appeals court and a former prosecutor. The Republican majority in the Senate has said it will block a vote on any Supreme Court nominee from Mr Obama. Republicans have called on Mr Obama to leave the nomination to his successor, who will be elected in November. Obama Chooses Merrick Garland for Supreme Court. WASHINGTON — President Obama named federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland to a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday, setting up a major political fight with the Republican-controlled Senate, which has vowed to block a vote on the nomination. Obama said Garland is recognized for "decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence" and would be able to serve on the Supreme Court immediately. If confirmed by the Senate, Garland would replace the conservative bulwark Antonin Scalia, tipping a delicate balance on the court that could impact decisions on abortion, the death penalty and voting rights. At 63, he would also be the oldest nominee for associate justice since President Nixon nominated the 64-year-old Lewis Powell in 1971 — potentially giving Garland a shorter life tenure on the high court. An emotional Garland, his voice cracking, said "this is the greatest honor of my life" other than when his wife, Lynn, agreed to marry him. He talked of his career of public service. "Mr. President, it's a great privilege to be nominated by a fellow Chicagoan. I am grateful beyond words for the honor you have bestowed on me." Garland, Obama said, rejected a comfortable partnership in a Washington law firm in 1989 to take a job in the Justice Department of Republican President George H.W. Bush, working in a tiny office that "smelled of stale cigarette smoke." While at Justice, Obama said, Garland coordinated the case of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which led to the conviction and eventual execution of bomber Timothy McVeigh.

• published: 16 Mar 2016
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