washington u.s. appeal court judge merrick garland turn away senate last year supreme court post interest serve fbi director two source say tuesday even top senate republican recommend job garland chief judge u.s. court appeal district columbia circuit tell people around love job interest leave judiciary say one source familiar judge think two source speak condition anonymity senate majority leader mitch mcconnell say mention garland republican president donald trump possible successor jam comey trump fire last week fbi chief interview bloomberg television mcconnell refer garland former federal prosecutor apolitical professional head federal bureau investigation mcconnell leadership senate last year refuse consider centrist garland lifetime job supreme court justice democratic president barack obama nominate march 2016. mcconnell able allow trump take office january nominate neil gorsuch fill seat restore supreme court conservative majority garland 64 praise democrats republicans two decades appeal court appointment lifetime one take 10-year term fbi would open another top judicial seat trump fill trump fire comey fbi investigation possible collusion trump 2016 presidential campaign russia comey replacement would need someone deep background law enforcement history political involvement mcconnell say garland example mcconnell add would serve country well lead think bipartisan approach democrats threaten hold vote new fbi director special prosecutor name investigate potential tie trump campaign russia least 11 people consideration fbi top job senior justice department official democratic president bill clinton 1990s garland oversee prosecution timothy mcveigh man bomb federal build oklahoma city 1995 kill 168 people judge garland interest fbi job source