Chairman Charles Grassley
Ranking Member Diane Feinstein
U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington D.C. 20510-6050
Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein:
The AFL-CIO urges you to oppose the nomination of Eric Murphy to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Our opposition is rooted in both substantive and procedural grounds.
As the current Ohio State Solicitor General, Mr. Murphy successfully has disenfranchised minority, low-income, disabled and veteran voters.
Mr. Murphy also has defended employers’ refusal to comply with the federal law requirement that employer-sponsored health insurance include contraceptive coverage. We have little doubt that, if given the opportunity as a judge, Mr. Murphy will rule that an employer may disregard a whole host of federal workplace protections once a religious objection is raised.
Mr. Murphy’s opposition to marriage equality and reproductive rights is also disquieting. Mr. Murphy was an advocate for Ohio’s same-sex marriage ban.
Because Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown objects to this nomination, the Senate Judiciary Committee should not have granted Mr. Murphy a committee hearing; it certainly should not hold a vote.
Our nation deserves judges who treat all Americans fairly and demonstrate respect for democratic values.
Our review of Mr. Murphy’s record leads us to the conclusion that he would not be such a judge. We urge you to oppose his nomination to the Sixth Circuit.
Sincerely,
William Samuel
Government Affairs Director