WASHINGTON, DC, May 6, 2020 – Today the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Justin Walker, Mitch McConnell’s 37-year-old protégé, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. This hearing took place despite the fact that the number of confirmed coronavirus positive cases in the city continues to steadily climb and stay-at-home orders remain in place. Senate Republicans thus put the lives of their colleagues, their staffs, and the public at risk to consider a nominee for a vacancy that won’t even be open until September.
Walker’s record includes fierce opposition to the Affordable Care Act, having called the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the law “indefensible” and “catastrophic.” He has praised Brett Kavanaugh for having written a “roadmap” for courts to overturn the ACA.
Walker has closely aligned his values with President Trump’s, and he has said that he believes a judge should be a “warrior” for conservative causes and that he will not “surrender” in the “war” being waged. He also has expressed extreme views on unchecked presidential power, including defending Trump’s decision to fire FBI Director James Comey.
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement:
“McConnell’s craven political agenda to stack the courts with loyal conservatives was on grand display this morning. Despite the lack of urgency, McConnell apparently believes it’s worth risking the lives of his fellow Senators and staff members to confirm as many of the president’s nominees as possible. In the midst of a national health care crisis, it’s shocking that the Majority Leader’s top priority is rubber-stamping a nominee who wants to overturn the Affordable Care Act in its entirety, which would strip access to health care for millions of Americans.”