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A project tracking federal judicial nominations and courts.


Nominees

William G. Myers III

Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals
Withdrawn January 9, 2007


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William Myers
Photo: US Senate

William Myers Withdraws 

Read our latest press release: Anti-Environmental Judicial Nominee Myers Withdraws

William Myers' 9th Circuit nomination generated an unusually wide range of opposition including letters to the Senate, statements by Senators, and

criticism from more than 100 Editorials by newspaper Editorial Boards in Idaho and across the country.

A 2005 Senate bipartisan agreement specifically provided that Myers was one of two nominees who could continue to be blocked.

William Myers and Jack Abramoff

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the incoming chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee wants judicial nominee William G. Myers III to explain discrepancies between his testimony before the committee and Denver Post reports regarding contact between Myers and lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The contact took place at a dinner party in 2001, while Myers was still serving as the Interior Department's Solicitor.

Background:

On May 15, 2003, President Bush nominated William G. Myers III to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.  A July 20, 2004 vote (53-44) fell seven votes short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture and cut off a filibuster against his nomination.

On February 14, 2005, President Bush formally renominated William Myers to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A new Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was held on March 1, 2005, and on March 17, the Committee voted 10-8 along party lines to send the nomination to the full Senate.  Read materials contradicting Myers' testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Community Rights Counsel's website. As part of a Senate compromise brokered in 2005, Senate Democrats may block a final vote on the merits of the re-nomination of William G. Myers III. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has announced that Senate Democrats will continue to block nominee William Myers.

On August 3, 2006, Myers' nomination was returned to the President, under the provisions of Senate Rules XXXI paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules of Senate. On September 5, 2006, President Bush renominated Myers.  The Senate Judiciary Committee then returned his nomination to the President on September 29, 2006.  President Bush renominated Myers November 15, 2006.  Myers' failed nomination was returned to the President on December 9, 2006.  On January 9, 2007, Myers, along with court of appeals nominees William Haynes and Terrance Boyle asked the President to withdraw their nominations.
 

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gavel icon Press Releases:

Anti-Environmental Judicial Nominee Myers Withdraws (01/09/07)
Bi-partisan Senate action and environmental concerns defeated 9th Circuit nominee

Bush Renominates Blocked Judicial Candidates (11/15/06)
President misses opportunity to follow through on bi-partisan pledge

Judicial Nominee Push Ignores Bipartisan Agreement (09/13/06)
Renominated William Myers could get committee vote tomorrow

Senate Compromise Preserves Independent Courts, Protects Environment (05/23/05)
Anti-environmentalist William Myers remains blocked

President Bush Sends Americans a Valentine's Day Message of Confrontation and Divisiveness (02/14/05)
Former mining lobbyist re-nominated to lifetime post

Bush Announces Plans to Renominate Blocked Judicial Candidates (12/23/04)
President chooses path of confrontation and gridlock

Senators Block Anti-Environmental Judicial Nominee Myers (07/20/04)
Forty-Four Senators oppose effort to end debate on controversial nominee

Vote Scheduled on Judicial Nominee William Myers (07/16/04)
Most anti-environmental nominee in history comes to the Senate floor

Myers Post Hearing: Still Unfit to Judge (04/20/04)
Analysis of judicial nominee's hearing record strengthens opposition

Senators Should Consider Environmental Impacts of Judicial Nominations (02/26/04)
William Pryor, William Myers illustrate problems of extremist nominees

gavel icon Reports & Analysis:

Overview of Nominees
Packing the Courts: President Bush’s Nominees to Lifetime Federal Judgeships Threaten the Environment

Executive Nominations Failed / Returned to the President
Executive Nominations Failed / Returned to the President from the U.S. Senate.

"Unfit to Judge" Myers Post-Hearing
Hearing and Post-Hearing Record Reinforces the Case Against the Confirmation of William G. Myers III.

Report of PFAW on Myers
Report of People For the American Way in Opposition to the Nomination of William G. Myers III to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

William Myers’ Nomination to a Lifetime Seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals Threatens Environmental and Other Protections
William Myers’ Nomination to a Lifetime Seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals Threatens Environmental and Other Protections.

Fact Sheet regarding Myers's opposition to public access to the courts
William Myers’ Views on Access to the Courts Violate Ninth Circuit Precedent and Would Effectively Bar Many Vital Environmental and Other Public Interest Claims.

Myers Talking Points
William Myers’ Nomination to a Lifetime U.S. Court of Appeals Judgeship Threatens a Wide Range of Environmental and Other Protections.