Senate Republicans are planning to push the nomination of former Interior solicitor Bill G. Myers for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Indian Country fought Myers for actions he took as the Interior Department's top lawyer. Without consulting the Quechan Nation, he rescinded a legal opinion that paved the way for a gold mine on sacred sites. In the Cobell and tribal trust fund cases, he advocated for a limited view of the trust responsibility.

Myers was blocked last year by Democrats who cited the opposition of dozens of tribes and tribal organizations like the Quechan Nation, the National Congress of American Indians and the National Indian Gaming Association. Republicans now think they can overcome the opposition with the votes of Democrats Joseph R. Biden Jr. (Delaware) and Ben Nelson (Nebraska) and possibly new Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colorado).

Get the Story:
Bush Tries Luck Again With Judicial Nominees (The Washington Post 2/15)
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Bush Renominates as Judges 7 Whom Democrats Blocked (The New York Times 2/15)
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Senate's New Math May Aid Stalled Judicial Nominees (The New York Times 2/13)
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