( New York, NY, March 29, 2016 ) — Today Lambda Legal released the results of its review of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland's judicial record.
"The bottom line is that we need a Senate hearing to fully understand Judge Garland's judicial philosophy," said Jon W. Davidson, Legal Director and Eden/Rushing Chair at Lambda Legal. "His record to date doesn't tell us much about how he would rule on a range of issues important to advocates for justice and equality."
Lambda Legal reviewed all 359 opinions authored or co-authored by Judge Garland, and analysis of other decisions in which he participated involving LGBT-identified and LGBT-affiliated parties, employment discrimination, reproductive rights, voting rights, criminal justice, rights of detainees, fair courts, or constitutional rights of equal protection, liberty, free speech, or religious exercise.
Excerpt from the analysis:
"Our review found that there have been only four cases in which Judge Garland participated ( none of which he authored an opinion in ) that involved parties who identified as gay or who were affiliated with the LGBT community. Although, in each of these four cases, he ruled against those parties, the legal issues directly presented on the appeals he participated in were general, and suggested little about his views on sexual orientation or gender identity related issues."
Read the full analysis here: http://www.lambdalegal.org/blog/20160329_lambda-legal-analysis-merrick-garland
Davidson added, "A critical part of our democracy has been sabotaged by the stubborn antics of some Senate leadership and majority members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Partisan politics has been prioritized over this process, and ultimately the public is left lacking insight into Judge Garland's ideology. A hearing is needed, not in November, but now. Senate leadership must do their jobs, not when convenient, but now."
To sign Lambda Legal's petition urging the Senate to #doyourjob: www.lambdalegal.org/petition/do-your-job .
