 merrick brian garland (born november 13, 1952) is the chief judge of the united states court of appeals for the district of columbia circuit. he was widely seen as a leading contender for a nomination to the supreme court in the obama administration following the announced retirement of justice john paul stevens.white house prepares for possibility of 2 supreme court vacancies, abc news february 4, 2010jess bravin, democrats divide on voice of possible top-court pick wall street journal (february 8, 2010). ==early life, education and legal training== garland was born in chicago, illinois. his mother, shirley, was a director of volunteer services, and his father, cyril garland, headed garland advertising in chicago. garland grew up in lincolnwood, illinois, graduated eighth grade from lincoln hall middle school, and graduated high-school from niles west high school in skokie, illinois, in 1970. he was named one of 119 members of the presidential scholars program by the commission on presidential scholars, and he came with that group to the white house on june 4, 1970 to listen to a special address in the east room of the white house to the group by president richard nixon. garland also was named a national merit scholar.[http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/630230392.html?dids=630230392:630230392&fmt=abs&fmts=abs:ai&type=historic&date=apr+30%2c+1970&author=&pub=chicago+tribune+(1963-current+file)&edition=&startpage=a10&desc=145+in+chic
1952_births American_legal_scholars Harvard_Law_School_alumni Judges_of_the_United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_D.C._Circuit Law_clerks_of_the_Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States Lawyers_from_Chicago,_Illinois Living_people Presidential_Scholars United_States_Department_of_Justice_lawyers United_States_court_of_appeals_judges_appointed_by_Bill_Clinton