Controversial appeals court nominee Bill Myers didn't make any "policy" decisions as the Interior Department's former top lawyer, he just interpreted the law, Secretary Gale Norton said.
"When the solicitor makes a decision for the Department of the Interior, what they do is look at the law as it exists. It's not a policy question, it's really analyzing the law the way the courts have interpreted it," Norton was quoted by Fox News as saying.
What Norton, or Fox, left out, is that Myers' interpretations of the law have been contrary to court rulings. His opinion that allowed mining on the sacred lands of the Quechan Nation of California was rejected by a federal judge.
Another court rejected his stand in a case where the department sided with a company that wants to operate a round-the-clock mine next to the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Nevada.
The U.S. Supreme Court also rejected the department's limited view of the trust relationship.
Myers was not included in a deal to allow votes on some of President Bush's nominees. Republicans plan to call a vote on him anyway this month. He was blocked last year by a Democratic filibuster.
Get the Story:Myers Confirmation on Chopping Block (Fox News 6/2) Relevant Documents:
Inspector General Letter | NCAI Resolution | Environmental Group's Letter | Holland & Hart Biography Indianz.Com Profile:
Industry insider named to Interior (March 30, 2001) From the Indianz.Com Archive:
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21) Relevant Links:
Judicial nominees, Department of Justice site - http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/judicialnominations.htm Related Stories:
Senate confirms first nominee under compromise (05/26)
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Myers left out of Senate deal on Bush nominees (5/24)
Myers seen as expendable in judicial nominee fight (5/23)
Senate begins debate on Bush judicial nominees (5/19)
Senate showdown on Bush judicial nominees nears (5/17)
Democrats won't budge on Myers, other nominees (5/13)
Debate continues over blocked judicial nominees (05/10)
Democrats reject GOP offer on Bush judicial nominees (04/29)
GOP refuses compromise on Bush judicial nominees (4/27)
Democrats may offer deal on some Bush nominees (4/26)
Frist to challenge Democrats on judicial nominees (4/15)
Senate panel votes to advance Myers nomination (03/18)
Quechan Nation blasts Myers for Senate testimony (3/17)
Editorial: Reject Myers for appeals court on merits (3/17)
Democrats vow to shut down Senate on judicial picks (3/16)
Editorial: Myers still 'unworthy' choice for appeals court (03/11)
Salazar urges Bush to withdraw Myers nomination (03/02)
Myers before Senate Judiciary Committee again (3/1)
NCAI renews objection to Bill Myers nomination (2/25)
Probe of Myers role in ranching dispute released (2/23)
Investigation faults role of Bush nominee at Interior (02/16)
Republicans to push Myers for appeals court again (2/15)
Democrats block court nominee on Senate floor (7/21)
Vote set on controversial Bush court nominee (7/20)
Democrats continue to object to Myers nomination (05/19)
Bush nominee opposed by Indian Country advances (04/02)
Tribes blast Bush choice for federal appeals court (03/26)
Tribal leaders to discuss court nominee, budget (03/24)
Tex Hall: Former DOI lawyer bad choice for court (3/8)
Myers advocated giving $1M federal land for free (03/08)
Bush judicial nominee blasted by Democrats (02/06)
Senate committee to take up Bill Myers judgeship (2/3)
Probes clear ex-DOI lawyer seeking judgeship (01/12)
Appeals court nominee favored industry over tribes (12/18)
Interior's top lawyer stepping down next month (10/02)
DOI's top lawyer under ethics investigation (08/15)
Interior has few answers at Senate hearing (7/18)
Tribes push action on sacred sites (3/21)
Interior Solicitor on trust fund crash course (10/17)
Memo: Solicitor's order was 'intimidating' (10/10)
Myers reversing sacred site opinion (10/25)
Bush nominee has no 'agenda' on Clinton decisions (6/21)
Norton confirmed by 'landslide' (1/31)
Babbitt denies Calif. gold mine (1/19)
BLM recommends mine rejection (11/10)