Matey’s Confirmation Latest Erosion of Senate Norms

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 12, 2019 – Following today’s Senate confirmation of Paul Matey, President Trump’s nominee for a seat on the Third Circuit, AFJ Legal Director Daniel Goldberg released the following:

“The confirmation of Paul Matey is the latest erosion of Senate norms in President Trump and Senate Republican’s drive to pack the courts. Until Trump became president, no person had ever been confirmed over the objection of both home state senators. Matey will now be the second in just the last month. Neither Senator Menendez nor Booker supports his nomination. In fact, despite repeated requests to do so, Senator Booker was not given an opportunity to even meet with Matey until just days before his confirmation vote, belying any pretense that there was meaningful consultation with home state senators.”

Matey is an ally of former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and served as his deputy chief counsel during the “Bridgegate” scandal. Senators Menendez and Booker have called Matey “a highly partisan attorney who will not be an impartial jurist.”