Judge Merrick Garland received a hero’s welcome from the Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

Several noted how thrilled they were to see him testifying in a confirmation hearing — as they had hoped in 2016, when Garland was nominated to fill the late Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat on the U.S.

But Garland’s testimony — shaky at times, radically left-wing at others — made clear that America dodged a bullet when Republicans blocked him.

It was both sad and amusing to see him attempt to define the term “systemic racism.” First, he said it meant “discrimination and widespread disparate treatment of communities of color and other ethnic minorities in this country.” He listed several examples — all of which showed economic inequality, without showing “disparate treatment.”.

In so doing, Garland endorsed a clear double standard: an inquiry into President Donald Trump had to be protected, but one that could implicate Democrats — including President Joe Biden himself — could be dismantled.

So much for Judge Garland’s high-minded statements about keeping politics out of the Department of Justice.

He pleaded ignorance when asked his view of the Department of Justice giving big grants to left-wing activist groups.

He said he would consider the issue — later, after he was confirmed.

But we can take comfort in at least one thing: Judge Merrick Garland is not a Supreme Court Justice.