Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Wednesday he rejects any plans by President Trump to break up the 9th Circuit Court.
Schumer responded to Trump’s Wednesday interview with the Washington Examiner, in which he said he is “absolutely” looking at breaking up the 9th Circuit with a two-word tweet.
“Absolutely” not. https://t.co/tfhn0Yruu6
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) April 26, 2017
“Absolutely not,” Schumer said.
Trump has taken aim at the 9th Circuit recently for twice blocking his immigration executive orders, the latest being a federal judge in California blocking his sanctuary cities executive order on Tuesday. The circuit’s court of appeals is slated to hear an appeal of Trump’s revised travel ban next month.
Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation to break up the court over its perceived liberal leanings and lighten its case load. Judges from the court have been actively pressing lawmakers to reject those calls. Two judges from the court met privately with lawmakers in March to reject legislation offered by Republican Arizona Sens. Jeff Flake and John McCain to break up the court, which covers nine states plus Guam. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard almost 12,000 cases last year, more than any other circuit.
Past efforts to break up the 9th Circuit have failed, but the effort by Flake and McCain looks to be bolstered by Trump’s support. Flake’s team has spoken with the White House Counsel’s office about the bill and the 9th Circuit has commented publicly on the legislation.
