freebeacon--2020-04-03--Calls Mount for WHO Chief to Resign

Calls Mount for WHO Chief to Resign

Calls are mounting in Congress for the World Health Organization 's director-general to resign following allegations his group aided China 's efforts to obfuscate the number of coronavirus cases in the country .
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , who goes by Dr. Tedros—though he is not a medical doctor—has repeatedly lauded China 's measures to contain the virus despite mounting evidence the communist regime has been less than forthcoming with the international community .
A classified U.S. intelligence report recently concluded China lied about its internal spread and death toll .
Several Republican lawmakers told the Washington Free Beacon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unqualified for his post .
`` Dr. Tedros deceived the world , '' Sen. Martha McSally ( R. , Ariz. ) told the Free Beacon .
`` Since the very beginning of this crisis , Tedros has parroted Chinese government talking points , even praising the communist party 's ‘ transparency ' during its coronavirus response efforts despite a mountain of evidence showing that the regime concealed the severity of the outbreak . ''
`` At the direction of Tedros , the WHO provided cover for China for months as it attempted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain this virus , '' McSally added .
`` This deception cost lives . ''
Tedros has repeatedly praised China 's response to the coronavirus .
`` China is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak despite the severe social and economic impact that it is having on China , '' Tedros said in February .
On March 20 , he repeated China 's dubious claim that it had `` no domestic COVID19 '' cases , calling it an `` amazing achievement . ''
Evidence indicates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physicians who tried to sound the alarm about its outbreak in Wuhan in December .
One study found the number of novel cases could have been reduced by 95 percent if China had disclosed the situation three weeks earlier .
`` The World Health Organization is supposed to fight diseases , not coddle tyrants , '' Sen. Ben Sasse ( R. , Neb . )
told the Free Beacon .
`` We 're in the middle of a public health crisis , but after Americans beat this virus we need to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Sasse , a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee , disputed claims the United States currently leads the globe in the number of coronavirus cases .
China 's publicly issued data can not be trusted , the senator said .
Sen. Ted Cruz ( R. , Tex . )
joined the chorus of congressional voices pushing for the WHO to implement reforms in the wake of its coronavirus response .
`` The World Health Organization has consistently bent to the will of the Chinese Communist Party at the expense of global @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus , from downplaying the extent of the virus to systematically excluding Taiwan , '' a spokesperson for Cruz 's office told the Free Beacon .
`` Sen. Cruz believes that the WHO has lost the credibility necessary for it to be effective , and a reevaluation of its leadership is urgently called for . ''
WHO officials have avoided questions about their close relationship with China .
Last week , WHO senior adviser to the director-general Bruce Aylward appeared to pretend not to hear a reporter 's question about whether the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member .
China has long blocked Taiwan from joining the WHO ; while Taiwan is a self-governing nation , China considers it a rogue province .
When the reporter repeated her question , Aylward said they 'd already discussed China enough and asked her to move on to the next question .
Aylward also said in February that if he had coronavirus , he would want to be treated in China .
Sen. Rick Scott ( R. , Fla. ) called this week for the United States to cut off its funding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China cover up '' the pandemic 's extent .
The United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations agency , giving $ 893 million in 2018-19 , according to the Council on Foreign Relations .
Despite contributing far less to the WHO budget ( only $ 86 million in 2019 ) , China has stepped up its influence efforts at the United Nations while the Trump administration has scaled them back .
Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
, one of the most vocal critics of China 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier this week that the communist regime is due for a `` reckoning . ''
`` China , through its dishonesty and corruption , turned what could have been a manageable local outbreak into a global pandemic that will ultimately cost not only our people , but the world , trillions and trillions of dollars , and hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives , '' Cotton said .

Calls are mounting in Congress for the World Health Organization's director-general to resign following allegations his group aided China's efforts to obfuscate the number of coronavirus cases in the country.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who goes by Dr. Tedros—though he is not a medical doctor—has repeatedly lauded China's measures to contain the virus despite mounting evidence the communist regime has been less than forthcoming with the international community. A classified U.S. intelligence report recently concluded China lied about its internal spread and death toll.
Several Republican lawmakers told the Washington Free Beacon on Thursday recent events demonstrate Tedros is unqualified for his post.
"Dr. Tedros deceived the world," Sen. Martha McSally (R., Ariz.) told the Free Beacon. "Since the very beginning of this crisis, Tedros has parroted Chinese government talking points, even praising the communist party's 'transparency' during its coronavirus response efforts despite a mountain of evidence showing that the regime concealed the severity of the outbreak."
"At the direction of Tedros, the WHO provided cover for China for months as it attempted to shirk accountability for its bungled efforts to contain this virus," McSally added. "This deception cost lives."
Tedros has repeatedly praised China's response to the coronavirus.
"China is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak despite the severe social and economic impact that it is having on China," Tedros said in February.
On March 20, he repeated China's dubious claim that it had "no domestic COVID19" cases, calling it an "amazing achievement."
For the first time, #China has reported no domestic #COVID19 cases yesterday. This is an amazing achievement, which gives us all reassurance that the #coronavirus can be beaten. https://t.co/py3Ka2cbLK — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 20, 2020
Evidence indicates the Chinese government censored information and silenced physicians who tried to sound the alarm about its outbreak in Wuhan in December. One study found the number of novel cases could have been reduced by 95 percent if China had disclosed the situation three weeks earlier.
"The World Health Organization is supposed to fight diseases, not coddle tyrants," Sen. Ben Sasse (R., Neb.) told the Free Beacon. "We're in the middle of a public health crisis, but after Americans beat this virus we need to have a serious reckoning with the World Health Organization."
Sasse, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, disputed claims the United States currently leads the globe in the number of coronavirus cases. China's publicly issued data cannot be trusted, the senator said.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Tex.) joined the chorus of congressional voices pushing for the WHO to implement reforms in the wake of its coronavirus response.
"The World Health Organization has consistently bent to the will of the Chinese Communist Party at the expense of global health and of containing the spread of the coronavirus, from downplaying the extent of the virus to systematically excluding Taiwan," a spokesperson for Cruz's office told the Free Beacon. "Sen. Cruz believes that the WHO has lost the credibility necessary for it to be effective, and a reevaluation of its leadership is urgently called for."
WHO officials have avoided questions about their close relationship with China.
Last week, WHO senior adviser to the director-general Bruce Aylward appeared to pretend not to hear a reporter's question about whether the WHO would consider admitting Taiwan as a member.
China has long blocked Taiwan from joining the WHO; while Taiwan is a self-governing nation, China considers it a rogue province. When the reporter repeated her question, Aylward said they'd already discussed China enough and asked her to move on to the next question.
Aylward also said in February that if he had coronavirus, he would want to be treated in China.
Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.) called this week for the United States to cut off its funding of the WHO because it helped "Communist China cover up" the pandemic's extent.
The United States is the largest contributor to the United Nations agency, giving $893 million in 2018-19, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Despite contributing far less to the WHO budget (only $86 million in 2019), China has stepped up its influence efforts at the United Nations while the Trump administration has scaled them back.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), one of the most vocal critics of China's virus response, told the Free Beacon earlier this week that the communist regime is due for a "reckoning."
"China, through its dishonesty and corruption, turned what could have been a manageable local outbreak into a global pandemic that will ultimately cost not only our people, but the world, trillions and trillions of dollars, and hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives," Cotton said.


freebeacon--2020-04-03--Trump Taps Kavanaugh Ally for Seat on Influential Appeals Court

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced plans to nominate a vocal ally of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to an influential federal appeals court in Washington .
Justin Walker , 37 , who has served as a federal district court judge in Kentucky since October , would replace Republican appointee Judge Thomas Griffith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit if approved by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate .
Griffith , appointed by former President George W. Bush , had previously announced his plans to retire .
After Trump nominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 , Walker frequently appeared on cable TV , including Fox News , talking up the nominee ’ s conservative credentials .
`` He is a warrior with a backbone of iron , '' Walker told Fox at the time .
He also called Kavanaugh `` a fighter for conservative legal principles '' who would not `` go wobbly '' if appointed to the Supreme Court .
Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed to the high court after claims of sexual misconduct from decades earlier were made against him .
He denied the allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has taught at the University of Louisville ’ s law school , Walker has Washington ties .
He clerked for Kavanaugh on the same appeals court to which he has been nominated , where Kavanaugh served for 12 years .
He also clerked for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy , who Kavanaugh replaced in 2018 .
At the time of his appointment to the district court , the American Bar Association , a legal organization that issues ratings on judicial nominees , said Walker was not qualified to serve because of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a 50-41 vote .
The D.C .
Circuit is considered the second most powerful court in the United States , in part because it handles many high-stakes challenges to federal regulations .
Walker ’ s appointment would not change the ideological balance of the court , which currently has a 7-4 majority of Democratic appointees .
One of Trump ’ s biggest successes has been the swift appointment and confirmation of conservative judges , especially on the appeals courts .
He has also made two appointments to the Supreme Court – Kavanaugh @ @ @ @ @ @ @

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced plans to nominate a vocal ally of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to an influential federal appeals court in Washington.
Justin Walker, 37, who has served as a federal district court judge in Kentucky since October, would replace Republican appointee Judge Thomas Griffith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit if approved by the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate.
Griffith, appointed by former President George W. Bush, had previously announced his plans to retire.
After Trump nominated conservative judge Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018, Walker frequently appeared on cable TV, including Fox News, talking up the nominee’s conservative credentials.
"He is a warrior with a backbone of iron," Walker told Fox at the time. He also called Kavanaugh "a fighter for conservative legal principles" who would not "go wobbly" if appointed to the Supreme Court.
Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed to the high court after claims of sexual misconduct from decades earlier were made against him. He denied the allegations.
Although based in Kentucky, where he has taught at the University of Louisville’s law school, Walker has Washington ties. He clerked for Kavanaugh on the same appeals court to which he has been nominated, where Kavanaugh served for 12 years. He also clerked for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who Kavanaugh replaced in 2018.
At the time of his appointment to the district court, the American Bar Association, a legal organization that issues ratings on judicial nominees, said Walker was not qualified to serve because of his lack of experience. He was confirmed on a 50-41 vote.
The D.C. Circuit is considered the second most powerful court in the United States, in part because it handles many high-stakes challenges to federal regulations. Walker’s appointment would not change the ideological balance of the court, which currently has a 7-4 majority of Democratic appointees.
One of Trump’s biggest successes has been the swift appointment and confirmation of conservative judges, especially on the appeals courts. He has also made two appointments to the Supreme Court - Kavanaugh and fellow conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch.
Reporting by Lawrence Hurley; Editing by Bill Berkrot


freebeacon--2020-04-04--The Mainstream Media Spins a Pandemic

The Mainstream Media Spins a Pandemic

A New York Times report this week criticizes pro-Trump media figures who downplayed the threat of coronavirus .
Fair enough .
But it is worth examining how mainstream media outlets treated lawmakers who were warning about the virus and about China 's potential malfeasance early on .
Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
, for example , encouraged President Donald Trump in January to implement a travel ban from China .
He told CBS 's Face The Nation on Jan. 26 that China had a `` record of dishonesty and incompetence '' in combating health crises and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's impeachment trial , it was the viral outbreak that was the `` most important story in the world . ''
Citing Cotton , a Politico report in early February warned that a travel ban and quarantine measures `` could undercut international efforts to fight the outbreak by antagonizing Chinese leaders . ''
Cotton also argued that the virus might have originated at a Chinese biochemical lab in Wuhan that sits near the seafood market where Chinese officials initially claimed the disease originated .
The New York Times accused him of spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was `` the sort of tale that resonates with an expanding chorus of voices in Washington who see China as a growing Soviet-level threat to the United States , echoing the anti-Communist thinking of the Cold War era . ''
`` Right wing media outlets fan the anger , '' Times business correspondent Alexandra Stevenson wrote on Feb. 17 .
Presumably , the right-wing outlets providing a megaphone for this conspiracy theory were different from the ones that were dangerously minimizing the threat of the illness .
What most mainstream news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it comes to the coronavirus , the right , the left , and , unfortunately , the scientific experts are flying blind , writing and rewriting the rules ad hoc and trying to muddle through .
There have been enough miscalculations to go around .
The Times ‘ s effort to classify them by political inclination is laughable .
There was the Vox explainer published in early February comparing the coronavirus to the flu .
`` Half the people in America do not get a flu shot and the flu , right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN 's Anderson Cooper said on March 4th .
`` So if you 're freaked out at all about the coronavirus , you should be more concerned about the flu . ''
It is also worth noting which voices have proved prescient .
The Washington Post ’ s David Ignatius , in a Friday column that quotes Cotton , writes now that alas , `` scientists don ’ t rule out that an accident at a research laboratory in Wuhan might have spread a deadly bat virus that had been collected for scientific @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theory percolating in scientific circles about `` an accidental lab release of bat coronavirus . ''
`` Less than 300 yards from the seafood market is the Wuhan branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention .
Researchers from that facility and the nearby Wuhan Institute of Virology have posted articles about collecting bat coronaviruses from around China , for study to prevent future illness .
Did one of those samples leak , or was hazardous waste deposited in a place where it could spread ? ''
Will the Washington Post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spreading a debunked conspiracy theory '' as they did when Cotton offered the same informed speculation six weeks ago ?
Will the New York Times offer their readers an analysis of how the panicked Republicans of February were unfairly maligned by the millennial pandemic explainers at Vox ?
At least those of us lucky enough to have masks won ’ t have to hold our breath .

A New York Times report this week criticizes pro-Trump media figures who downplayed the threat of coronavirus. Fair enough.
But it is worth examining how mainstream media outlets treated lawmakers who were warning about the virus and about China's potential malfeasance early on.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), for example, encouraged President Donald Trump in January to implement a travel ban from China. He told CBS's Face The Nation on Jan. 26 that China had a "record of dishonesty and incompetence" in combating health crises and cautioned that while Washington was consumed with Trump's impeachment trial, it was the viral outbreak that was the "most important story in the world."
Citing Cotton, a Politico report in early February warned that a travel ban and quarantine measures "could undercut international efforts to fight the outbreak by antagonizing Chinese leaders."
Cotton also argued that the virus might have originated at a Chinese biochemical lab in Wuhan that sits near the seafood market where Chinese officials initially claimed the disease originated. The New York Times accused him of spreading a "conspiracy theory," writing that it was "the sort of tale that resonates with an expanding chorus of voices in Washington who see China as a growing Soviet-level threat to the United States, echoing the anti-Communist thinking of the Cold War era."
"Right wing media outlets fan the anger," Times business correspondent Alexandra Stevenson wrote on Feb. 17. Presumably, the right-wing outlets providing a megaphone for this conspiracy theory were different from the ones that were dangerously minimizing the threat of the illness.
Heads, the Times wins; tails, Republicans lose.
What most mainstream news reports have refused to acknowledge is that when it comes to the coronavirus, the right, the left, and, unfortunately, the scientific experts are flying blind, writing and rewriting the rules ad hoc and trying to muddle through.
There have been enough miscalculations to go around. The Times's effort to classify them by political inclination is laughable. There was the Vox explainer published in early February comparing the coronavirus to the flu. "Half the people in America do not get a flu shot and the flu, right now, is far deadlier," CNN's Anderson Cooper said on March 4th. "So if you're freaked out at all about the coronavirus, you should be more concerned about the flu."
It is also worth noting which voices have proved prescient. The Washington Post’s David Ignatius, in a Friday column that quotes Cotton, writes now that alas, "scientists don’t rule out that an accident at a research laboratory in Wuhan might have spread a deadly bat virus that had been collected for scientific study."
He writes about a theory percolating in scientific circles about "an accidental lab release of bat coronavirus."
"Less than 300 yards from the seafood market is the Wuhan branch of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Researchers from that facility and the nearby Wuhan Institute of Virology have posted articles about collecting bat coronaviruses from around China, for study to prevent future illness. Did one of those samples leak, or was hazardous waste deposited in a place where it could spread?"
Will the Washington Post excoriate their own well-sourced columnist for "spreading a debunked conspiracy theory" as they did when Cotton offered the same informed speculation six weeks ago? Will the New York Times offer their readers an analysis of how the panicked Republicans of February were unfairly maligned by the millennial pandemic explainers at Vox?
At least those of us lucky enough to have masks won’t have to hold our breath.


freebeacon--2020-04-04--Trump Turns to McConnell Ally to Fill Vacancy on Influential Appeals Court

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wielded decisive clout in the selection process for a key judicial vacancy President Donald Trump filled Friday , leveraging a deep reserve of good will accrued from four years as field marshal of Trump ’ s campaign to stock the federal bench with conservative jurists .
The president tapped U.S. District Judge Justin Walker , a McConnell ally , for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C .
Circuit .
At 38 , Walker is the youngest nominee for the D.C .
Circuit in decades .
His nomination will likely be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the November election .
The nomination is as much a function of McConnell ’ s influence as it is Walker ’ s growing reputation in the conservative legal movement .
Walker , a Kentuckian who serves on a federal trial court in Louisville , has been close to the senator for years .
McConnell ’ s able stewardship of judicial confirmations gave him pivotal influence in a selection process that might otherwise have been fractious .
Between academics , administration officials , and Washington lawyers , there was a deep reserve of prospective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a springboard to the Supreme Court .
`` Conservatives inside and outside of the administration recognize and appreciate the impact McConnell has had on the judiciary over many years , and very quickly agreed to McConnell 's preference , particularly since Walker looked like a safe pick , '' a source involved in judicial selection told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` McConnell made his pitch .
Everyone took a look at Walker .
Then things fell into place very quickly , '' the source added .
The Free Beacon first reported that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on March 5 .
Other contenders included acting associate attorney general Claire Murray and deputy White House counsel Kate Todd .
The selection was made all the easier by Walker ’ s dedicated support of Justice Brett Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation to the Supreme Court .
Walker , who clerked for Kavanaugh after graduating from Harvard Law School , was one of the justice ’ s most prolific surrogates , giving dozens of interviews and speeches promoting Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation .
Given the trying circumstances , Walker secured the enduring gratitude of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an unrelenting defender of Justice Kavanaugh during the left 's unprecedented smear campaign , '' said Carrie Severino of the Judicial Crisis Network .
`` I expect Walker to bring similar courage with him to the D.C .
Circuit as he defends the rule of law .
I look forward to his confirmation . ''
The Trump administration has approached judicial selection as a companion to its deregulatory agenda .
That consideration is especially important for the D.C .
Circuit , which has jurisdiction over dozens of federal agencies .
About half of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations , agency proceedings , and other administrative law issues according to statistics kept by the U.S .
Judicial Conference .
`` We are thrilled with President Trump ’ s nomination of Judge Justin Walker to serve on the D.C .
Circuit , a key federal appellate court that protects all Americans from the arbitrary , harmful government actions by Washington ’ s out of control administrative state , '' said Mike Davis of the Article III Project and former chief nominations counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee .
McConnell gave the nomination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the nomination , praising the president for searching `` outside the Beltway and into the Bluegrass . ''
Yet Walker ’ s résumé is heavy with Washington pedigree .
He was a speechwriter to former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld , clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy , and practiced in the Washington offices of Gibson , Dunn & Crutcher , a prestigious law firm .
Still , Walker left the capital for Kentucky in 2013 , where he edited books on education policy , mathematics , and political subjects while leading a nonprofit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also served on the law faculty at the University of Louisville , teaching courses on legal writing and professional skills .
His scholarship includes national security law issues and the separation of powers .
The president appointed Walker to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in 2019 .
The American Bar Association complicated his confirmation when its standing committee on the federal judiciary gave Walker a `` not qualified '' assessment .
In a letter summarizing the panel ’ s views , committee chairman Paul Moxley cited Walker ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a source of concern .
He also noted that the committee prefers candidates with at least 12 years experience practicing law , while Walker had been a lawyer for fewer than 10 years .
The letter added that Walker `` has great potential to serve as a federal judge . ''
If confirmed , Walker will succeed Judge Thomas Griffith , who announced his retirement in March .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wielded decisive clout in the selection process for a key judicial vacancy President Donald Trump filled Friday, leveraging a deep reserve of good will accrued from four years as field marshal of Trump’s campaign to stock the federal bench with conservative jurists.
The president tapped U.S. District Judge Justin Walker, a McConnell ally, for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. At 38, Walker is the youngest nominee for the D.C. Circuit in decades. His nomination will likely be the last major confrontation over judgeships before the November election.
The nomination is as much a function of McConnell’s influence as it is Walker’s growing reputation in the conservative legal movement. Walker, a Kentuckian who serves on a federal trial court in Louisville, has been close to the senator for years. McConnell’s able stewardship of judicial confirmations gave him pivotal influence in a selection process that might otherwise have been fractious. Between academics, administration officials, and Washington lawyers, there was a deep reserve of prospective nominees for a panel widely seen as a springboard to the Supreme Court.
"Conservatives inside and outside of the administration recognize and appreciate the impact McConnell has had on the judiciary over many years, and very quickly agreed to McConnell's preference, particularly since Walker looked like a safe pick," a source involved in judicial selection told the Washington Free Beacon.
"McConnell made his pitch. Everyone took a look at Walker. Then things fell into place very quickly," the source added.
The Free Beacon first reported that Walker was in contention for the nomination on March 5. Other contenders included acting associate attorney general Claire Murray and deputy White House counsel Kate Todd.
The selection was made all the easier by Walker’s dedicated support of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. Walker, who clerked for Kavanaugh after graduating from Harvard Law School, was one of the justice’s most prolific surrogates, giving dozens of interviews and speeches promoting Kavanaugh’s confirmation. Given the trying circumstances, Walker secured the enduring gratitude of legal conservatives.
"Judge Walker was an unrelenting defender of Justice Kavanaugh during the left's unprecedented smear campaign," said Carrie Severino of the Judicial Crisis Network. "I expect Walker to bring similar courage with him to the D.C. Circuit as he defends the rule of law. I look forward to his confirmation."
The Trump administration has approached judicial selection as a companion to its deregulatory agenda. That consideration is especially important for the D.C. Circuit, which has jurisdiction over dozens of federal agencies. About half of the D.C. Circuit’s cases concern regulations, agency proceedings, and other administrative law issues according to statistics kept by the U.S. Judicial Conference.
"We are thrilled with President Trump’s nomination of Judge Justin Walker to serve on the D.C. Circuit, a key federal appellate court that protects all Americans from the arbitrary, harmful government actions by Washington’s out of control administrative state," said Mike Davis of the Article III Project and former chief nominations counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee.
McConnell gave the nomination a populist hue in a statement following the nomination, praising the president for searching "outside the Beltway and into the Bluegrass." Yet Walker’s résumé is heavy with Washington pedigree. He was a speechwriter to former secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld, clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy, and practiced in the Washington offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a prestigious law firm.
Still, Walker left the capital for Kentucky in 2013, where he edited books on education policy, mathematics, and political subjects while leading a nonprofit that coordinates student empowerment programs. He also served on the law faculty at the University of Louisville, teaching courses on legal writing and professional skills. His scholarship includes national security law issues and the separation of powers.
The president appointed Walker to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in 2019.
The American Bar Association complicated his confirmation when its standing committee on the federal judiciary gave Walker a "not qualified" assessment. In a letter summarizing the panel’s views, committee chairman Paul Moxley cited Walker’s apparent lack of trial experience as a source of concern. He also noted that the committee prefers candidates with at least 12 years experience practicing law, while Walker had been a lawyer for fewer than 10 years.
The letter added that Walker "has great potential to serve as a federal judge."
If confirmed, Walker will succeed Judge Thomas Griffith, who announced his retirement in March.