Liberal groups are making a last-ditch effort to stop a controversial nominee to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which is the last stop for Idaho court cases before they’re appealed to the Supreme Court. If confirmed, this would continue the rightward shift of the once reliably liberal court.
Senators will consider Former Montana Solicitor General Lawrence VanDyke for a spot on the court, which covers much of the Western U.S. Democrats have slammed his views on gay rights and guns.
Five years ago, in a National Rifle Association questionnaire, VanDyke wrote that he only dropped his NRA membership so he could rule on cases involving the group.
Chris Kang with the liberal judicial watchdog group Demand Justice said even though he thinks VanDyke is likely to be confirmed, it's important to protest his nomination.
"When it comes to gun violence prevention, we have not seen a candidate with a record quite this extreme perhaps in the history of President Trump's Nominees," Kang said.
VanDyke backers point out he was the top appellate attorney in Montana and Nevada, two other Ninth Circuit states.
If confirmed, VanDyke would assume one of 29 seats on the court.
Follow Heath Druzin on Twitter, @HDruzin
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