Chairman Lindsey Graham
Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein
Committee on the Judiciary
United States Senate
Washington D.C. 20510-6050
Dear Chairman Graham and Ranking Member Feinstein:
The AFL-CIO urges you to oppose to the nomination of Stephen S. Schwartz to the United States Court of Federal Claims. This court has jurisdiction over large, complex, and often-technical litigation against the federal government, including pay claims by veterans and federal employees. Nothing in the record of Mr. Schwartz suggests that he is qualified to serve on the Court of Federal Claims.
Mr. Schwartz has been out of law school for only 11 years, has been neither admitted to practice before the Court of Federal Claims nor litigated before it. His brief legal career is notable only for its consistent advocacy of laws restricting the rights of voters, women, transgender youth and immigrants. Further, writings Mr. Schwartz failed to disclose when first nominated have revealed his extraordinarily narrow view of the constitutional authority for Congressional actions. These incendiary writings against government spending on Social Security and other vital safety net programs demonstrate that Mr. Schwartz is far from a mainstream conservative nominee.
Americans deserve an open-minded and fair judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, not one whose intemperate writing reflects an extreme ideological perspective. The AFL-CIO urges you to oppose the nomination of Stephen S. Schwartz for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Sincerely,
William Samuel, Director
Government Affairs Department