WASHINGTON, D.C., June 4, 2020 – This morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Justin Walker to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Walker has an egregious record of opposition to what he called the “indefensible” decision upholding the Affordable Care Act, and even as a sitting judge he bemoaned the fact the Supreme Court did not strike down the law. Like Trump’s other nominees to the D.C. Circuit, Walker also supports broad executive power, a particular concern the week Trump has threatened to deploy the military against peaceful protesters throughout the nation.
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron issued the following statement:
“Senate Republicans’ bankrupt agenda to rig the courts with extremist judges is putting the fate of this country at serious risk. During a health crisis, they are advancing a judge who supports taking health care away from at least 20 million people, including people with preexisting conditions. During an economic collapse, they are advancing a judge who has attacked labor unions and fought to undermine workers’ wages, benefits, and working conditions. And as the president threatens to invade cities to ‘dominate’ the people protesting racial inequality and police abuse, they are advancing a judge who wants to weaken civil rights protections, gun safety measures, and checks on executive power. Justin Walker would take this country in the exact opposite direction of where it needs to go. We need fair-minded judges who will uphold the Constitution, not partisans like Walker who will do the Republicans’ dirty work for them.”