The family of Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s pick to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, has donated only to Democratic campaigns.
Garland, the current Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia, does not appear to have ever donated to political parties, candidates, or causes.
However, his wife and daughter have contributed only to Democrats.
Merrick married his wife, Lynn Rosenman, in 1987. In September 1992, Lynn made a $200 donation to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Services Corporation.
One month after the donation, Merrick provided assistance to Bill Clinton for a presidential debate. This information appeared on a questionnaire to the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1995, the Washington Free Beacon reported Thursday.
"I provided volunteer assistance on a Presidential Debate for President Clinton in October 1992 and for Michael Dukakis in October 1988," Garland wrote of his political activity. "I did some volunteer work for Walter Mondale’s presidential campaign in 1983-84. As a college student, I worked two summers for the campaign of my then-congressman, Abner Mikva, in 1972 and 1974."
Merrick’s daughter, Rebecca, has also made at least one donation to a Democratic politician.
Rebecca made a $500 contribution to Elizabeth for Massachusetts, the campaign committee of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), in December 2011.
The New York Times wrote that if Garland is confirmed, it would result in the most liberal Supreme Court in 50 years.
Gun rights proponents have said that Garland should not be confirmed because of his record opposing gun rights as a federal judge, the Free Beacon reported Wednesday.
The Beacon also reported that Garland generally sides with labor regulators at the expense of businesses.
Juanita Duggan, president of the National Federation of Independent Business, said that her group has "great concerns" about Garland’s record of siding with government regulators.