In response to the Republican-led Senate’s confirmation of Steven Menashi to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Sasha J. Buchert, Senior Attorney at Lambda Legal, issued the following statement:
“Mr. Menashi’s confirmation for a lifetime judicial appointment is a dark day for democracy. Steven Menashi is one of President Trump’s most dangerous and alarming judicial nominees to date. Menashi now holds a lifetime seat on the Second Circuit of Appeals, which serves as the court of last resort for people pursuing justice from the states of Connecticut, New York, and Vermont, and where several cases of national importance are heard every year.
We are deeply troubled by the Trump Administration’s pushing through over 150 nominations many of whom were ultra-conservative, unqualified judicial nominees -but this confirmation raises this judicial crisis to emergency levels, and threatens access to justice for decades to come.
Mr. Menashi’s disqualifying record is not only plagued with bias against LGBT rights, but he also has actively undermined the rights of immigrants, women, students, and other vulnerable groups throughout his career. This record clearly demonstrates that he would to be unable to administer fair and impartial justice.
For this reason, Lambda Legal and over 20 LGBT organizations signed onto a letter opposing his confirmation and denounce the Senate for not listening to thousands of voices across the country who raised concerns about his nomination.
Mr. Menashi’s record reflects the language of a partisan advocate, not of a federal judge, and gives us no reason to believe that LGBT people, immigrants or other marginalized groups would receive equal justice in his courtroom.”
