Supreme Court nominee and D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Merrick Garland begged off at least nine more court cases in recent days, signaling that he is suspending his work as chief judge on that court through at least mid-April.
Orders issued Monday morning pulled Garland from three-judge panels set to hear a total of six cases on April 14 and 15. Those cases include a pair relating to the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups, as well as one challenging the Obama Administration’s so-called “administrative fix” to prevent cancellation of existing insurance policies that did not meet Obamacare standards.
Judge Douglas Ginsburg—a Reagan appointee—will take Clinton appointee Garland’s slot on the panel hearing the conservative groups’ challenges, making all judges on those cases GOP appointees. Judge Robert Wilkins—an Obama appointee—takes over for Garland on the Affordable Care Act case, leaving that panel leaning 2-1 towards GOP appointed-judges.