Washington, D.C. — Today, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) launched a new $20,000 digital ad opposing President Trump’s judicial nomination of Justin Walker to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

WATCH: “Extreme Priorities”

“Instead of responding to the coronavirus pandemic and providing relief to communities and workers, Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump are packing the courts with extreme, partisan judges,” said Ben Driscoll, LCV Judiciary Program Director. “Justin Walker, McConnell’s protégé and nominee to the powerful DC Circuit court would be nothing more than a conservative activist on the court, prioritizing polluters over people for decades to come.” 

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals is one of the United States’ most important federal courts, responsible for determining the future of critical public protections that safeguard the health of our communities, and serving as a check on presidential overreach. The upcoming open seat on the court won’t be vacant until September, but Trump and McConnell rushed to nominate Justin Walker as soon as the current judge announced his retirement. 

Walker is only 10 years out of law school, has never argued a case in court, and is overtly partisan. Walker appeared on Fox News 35 times in 2018 attacking sitting Senators on Fox News for investigating the serious allegations of sexual assault by Brett Kavanaugh.

The full script of the ad is below.

“Extreme Priorities”

Sen. Booker: 
It’s an issue that in the midst of a global pandemic
Where tens of thousands of people are dying 
We’re having a hearing for a judge
For a vacancy that’s not even up until September

Text on screen: 
Rather than helping people on the front lines,
Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump 
Are packing the courts with extreme, partisan judges

Leader McConnell:
We need to have hearings and we need to confirm judges
My motto for the year is leave no vacancy behind
That hasn’t changed
The pandemic will not prevent us from achieving that goal

Text on screen: 
Confirming Justin Walker to the D.C. Circuit is McConnell’s top priority
Walker will be nothing more than a conservative activist 
Prioritizing polluters over people for decades to come
Reinforcing racist policies and practices 
That leave communities of color suffering the most
Senate Republicans need to do their jobs
To support people in this crisis
Not do favors for Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump
Text COURT to 877-877 to join LCV in the fight to protect our courts

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