Voters Rejected Trump, Yet Senate Majority Continues to Jam Through His Judicial Nominees 

Senate should halt action on all judicial nominees and instead focus on the looming funding deadline and public health crises 

WASHINGTON — In direct opposition to the clear wishes of the American people, who resoundingly voted to remove President Trump from office this month, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Judiciary Chairman Lindsey Graham, and the Senate majority are working to confirm more Trump judicial nominees before President-elect Biden takes office. Yesterday, they confirmed three judges and three more confirmation votes are expected this week — but zero action is currently planned to tackle the global pandemic that has infected more than 11 million people in the United States and killed more than 240,000 people.

Once again, Sen. McConnell is focused on confirming judges to lifetime positions instead of passing legislation the American people actually need. He’s not taking meaningful action to address the dual public health crises of systemic racism and the COVID-19 pandemic, or providing funding for our government ahead of the impending deadline. Federal judges can set precedents on everything from health care access, to voting rights and civil liberties that will have effects for generations. In spite of these long-term repercussions, McConnell and his colleagues continue to push forward judges selected by a president whose beliefs are out of step with the American people, and who will soon be out of the job because of it. 

Statement from Anisha Singh, director, judiciary and democracy affairs, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

“Enough is enough. The people just voted Donald Trump out of office and are calling on their senators to provide relief from the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recession, and the rampant anti-Black violence occurring around the country. And with less than a month until the government runs out of funding, they are calling for senators to do their jobs and provide families across the U.S. and around the world with the resources they deserve. Instead, Senate leadership has continued to make it a priority to confirm judges for lifetime appointments. We call on the Senate to halt confirmation votes on any additional nominees, and instead put the needs of the country first.” 

The outgoing Trump administration and Senate Republican leadership are working to continue to reshape the makeup of the courts for as long as they’re able, with over 225 judges already appointed — many of whom have hostile records on reproductive and civil rights, including abortion. Learn more about their takeover of the federal judiciary on Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s website CrisisInTheCourts.com. 

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Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.