Matey Hearing an Affront to Home-State Senators
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 13, 2018 – Following today’s Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation for Paul Matey, president Trump’s nominee for a seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, AFJ President Nan Aron released the following statement:
“Paul Matey’s hearing was held over the strong objections of his home-state senators, Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, who were not meaningfully consulted on his nomination. This is an affront to these senators and to the people of New Jersey who elected them. It was especially troubling to watch the Chairman, Sen. Grassley, snap at Sen. Booker during today’s hearing in response to Booker’s reasonable request for a short meeting with Matey. No circuit court judge has ever been confirmed over the objections of both home-state senators. But Republicans seem committed to confirming this ally of former Governor Chris Christie, since partisan political ties seem to be the credential the Trump Administration most wants in federal judges. Meanwhile the GOP-led committee is intent on using this lame-duck session to continue blowing through every norm and rule that used to govern the confirmation process, jamming through more Trump judges with as little vetting and consultation as possible.”