McConnell Tries to Advance Bounds, Oldham Nominations Under the Radar

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 12, 2018 – Following Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to file cloture on the nominations of Ryan Bounds for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Andrew Oldham for the Fifth Circuit Court of appeals, AFJ President Nan Aron released the following statement:

“While the country is focused on the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh, Mitch McConnell is quietly pushing the Trump Administration’s court-packing strategy for the lower courts. We shouldn’t be surprised that the nominations he is scheduling for votes next week are two of the most controversial. Ryan Bounds is strongly opposed by both Oregon senators because of a history of offensive writings. If confirmed, he will be the first circuit court nominee in history to be seated over the objections of both home-state senators. Andrew Oldham worked closely with the disgraced Scott Pruitt to sue the EPA and fight protections for clean air and water, back when Pruitt was Oklahoma’s attorney general and before he became EPA head. If Mitch McConnell thinks no one is paying attention as he tries to slip these deeply troubling nominees onto the court of appeals, he is wrong.”