How does ATC pick who lands first?

Approach control lines them up based upon the direction from which they come and the active runway(s). Then they are turned over to Tower control for final. First come, first served. There is enough spacing so that no one should have to go around. If that happens, someone did not follow instructions or procedures.

apart from the "first to come first to serve"

there are priorities>

aircraft performing a combat mission

security/goverment flights

first THEN aircraft in emergency

international security and disarmament flights / OPEN SKIES/

first THEN is the first come first serve

thats how it is in here/ Europe/

Except in an emergency,first come, first served.

Exclude emergencies, is by distances away from airport

Tedex got it right. It is first come, first served.

it depends on the captain's sex.

If the captain is a woman, she's the first to land

If the captain is a man, he's the second to land

if the captain is.............. Pilot R sorry...

also, the less manueverable plane, the bigger plane, say a commercial airliner vs a pilot flying a cessna for leisure... i think that plays a small role

it depends on captain's skin color.

If he's white, he's the first to land

If he's yellow, he's the second to land

If he's brown, he's the third to land

If he's black, sorry...