One of President Trump’s nominees for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sobbed during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing when he pushed back on the notion that he would not be fair to people who are gay or transgender.
The American Bar Association sent a blistering letter to committee leadership on Tuesday alleging Trump’s nominee, Lawrence VanDyke, “would not say affirmatively that he would be fair to any litigant before him, notably members of the LGBTQ community.”
VanDyke broke down in tears when asked about the suggestion by Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri.
“I did not say that,” he said before choking up. “No, I did not say that. I do not believe that. It is a fundamental belief of mine that all people are created in the image of God. They should all be treated with dignity and respect, senator.”
VanDyke said he was “disappointed, shocked, and hurt” when he read the letter on the eve of his hearing. He said when he met with the group, he tried to respond to some of the negative comments but was told the woman leading the meeting was in a “hurry” and wouldn’t let him fully respond.
The American Bar Association said it concluded, based on dozens of interviews, that VanDyke was “not qualified” for the judicial brand. The group called VanDyke “arrogant, lazy, an ideologue, and lacking in knowledge of the day-to-day practice including procedural rules.”
Conservatives have questioned the group’s methodology, arguing it is biased against conservatives.
VanDyke serves as a deputy assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice. He was nominated last month by Trump for a spot on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which Trump has repeatedly attacked for its liberal tilt.
