gilbert stroud merritt jr. (january 17, 1936 – january 17, 2022) was an american lawyer and jurist. he was a senior united states circuit judge of the united states court of appeals for the sixth circuit. merritt jr. was nominated to the court by president jimmy carter. he was judge on the court from 1977 through 2001 and was chief judge from 1989 through 1996. merritt jr. was born in nashville, tennessee.