"Native rights advocates celebrated Tuesday after learning three of President Bush�s appeals court appointees withdrew their nominations, including William G. Myers III who was awaiting Senate confirmation to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

�NCAI and tribes from across the country had opposed his nomination because of his documented disregard for federal law affecting Native sacred places and his unwillingness to consider tribal government views,� said Joe Garcia, president of the National Congress of American Indians.

�Indian Country had grave concerns about Mr. Myers� ability to apply the law fairly and impartially,� said Garcia. �A lifetime appointment to the 9th Circuit, which contains millions of acres of public lands, hundreds of Indian reservations, more than 400 Indian tribes, and millions of Indian people, is just too important to the future of Indian people.�

Myers as well as William Haynes, William Myers and Terrence Boyle all ended their quest for confirmation. The nominees faced considerable challenges given their controversial backgrounds and the Senate�s new Democratic majority. Tribes, environmentalist organizations and Senate Democratic allies had fought Myers nomination.

�In support of their own agenda of liberal judicial activism, Senate Democrats have engaged in unprecedented measures of obstruction against the president�s highly qualified nominees,� Ed Whelan, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and a former clerk for Justice Antonin Scalia, told the Associated Press.

Myers sparked Native opposition during his tenure as lead lawyer for the U.S. Interior Department. Among his legal decisions was an opinion that reversed a Clinton-era ruling that protected Indian Pass, a land area sacred to the Fort Yuma-Quechan Tribe of Yuma, Ariz."

Get the Story:
Bush nominee withdraws;Native groups pleased (The Missoulian 1/10)

Relevant Links:
Judicial nominees, Department of Justice site - http://www.usdoj.gov/olp/judicialnominations.htm

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)

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