Hermandorfer Confirmation Threatens Our Rights and Democracy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Patrick McNeil, [email protected] 

WASHINGTON — Lena Zwarensteyn, senior director of the fair courts program and an advisor at The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, issued the following statement after the Senate confirmed Whitney Hermandorfer to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit:

“Our courts must work for all of us, but the confirmation of Whitney Hermandorfer to serve in a lifetime position on the Sixth Circuit threatens our civil rights and the future of equal justice in America. Her limited legal career shows a demonstrated hostility towards the protection of civil and human rights — including a disturbing and unacceptable record on reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, birthright citizenship, labor and employment, environmental protections, and the expansion of executive power — which should be disqualifying for any judicial nominee. 

“Ms. Hermandorfer’s record suggests that she will not uphold the rule of law or decide cases without bias or animus and that she will instead bring her agenda to the bench. We call on senators to ensure that judicial nominees are fair-minded and qualified, meet the highest ethical standards, and are faithful to the rule of law and Constitution. Our democracy deserves and requires no less.”

The Leadership Conference opposed the confirmation of Whitney Hermandorfer. In February, The Leadership Conference, joined by 84 national organizations, sent a letter to senators setting standards for consideration of federal judicial nominees. 

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.

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