Lawrence VanDyke’s Confirmation Is a Loss for Nevada’s Values
For Immediate Release: Dec. 13, 2019
Trump Judicial Nominee is unfit to occupy a seat on the Ninth Circuit
Las Vegas, NV — Today, the United States Senate voted to confirm former Nevada Solicitor General Lawrence VanDyke to a lifetime appointment in the Ninth Circuit court of appeals, despite strong opposition from Nevada U.S. senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto.
In a state like Nevada, that so greatly values personal freedom and autonomy, VanDyke’s long history of working to undermine American civil liberties is deeply troubling. While serving as Montana Solicitor General, VanDyke filed an amicus brief in support of a 20-week abortion ban in Arizona and advocated for overturning the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. In addition to his extreme views on abortion rights -- views not shared by a majority of the American public -- he also filed an amicus brief in a New Mexico lawsuit to deny the rights of LGBTQ+ people.
In addition to his ideologically extreme views, VanDyke, whose credentials and experience have routinely been challenged throughout his career, has never served as a judge. VanDyke has also been rated ‘not qualified’ by the American Bar Association.
Statement of Lindsey Harmon, Executive Director, Planned Parenthood Votes Nevada:
“Lawrence VanDyke’s confirmation to the Ninth Circuit is the result of a year’s-long campaign to install as many conservative ideologues to federal judgeships as possible during the Trump presidency regardless of what the beliefs are of the Americans who live in those jurisdictions.
With his extreme anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs, VanDyke’s appointment for the Nevada seat on the Ninth Circuit is wholly unrepresentative of a state where not only do the majority of constituents support abortion rights, but also where the right to safe, legal abortion has been protected in the state constitution since the 1990s.”
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