PORTLAND – President Trump’s nominee of a Portland attorney to the U.S. Court of Appeals First Circuit is drawing fire from advocates for abortion rights and the LGBTQ+ community.
Four different organizations – Planned Parenthood, EqualityMaine, Our Power and Maine Women’s Lobby – signed a joint letter this week to Sen. Susan Collins, asking her to oppose the nomination of Joshua Dunlap to the court.
In the letter, the groups cited multiple sources, including public statements and testimony on various legislative bills in the past. All of it, they alleged, points to Dunlap being hostile to abortion rights, hostile to LGBTQ+ people and an advocate for large corporations.
“Based on our review of his public statements and affiliations, we believe Mr. Dunlap’s record indicates an inability to decide cases in an equitable and unbiased manner including matters involving reproductive rights,” said Lisa Margulies, vice president of public affairs for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.
Gia Drew, executive director of EqualityMaine, said she was concerned that Dunlap would use religious freedom arguments as an excuse to circumvent anti-discrimination laws.
“We believe Joshua Dunlap would be a disastrous First Circuit Court Judge,” she said.
Other speakers pointed to Dunlap’s record defending large corporations, something Seth Berry, executive director of Our Power, said alienated Dunlap from a majority of the public.
“He has sold out his hard-working, middle-class neighbors time and time again,” he said. “If confirmed, Joshua Dunlap would be a blank check for corporate oligarchy.”
Collins’ office responded to the groups’ allegations by pointing out the American Bar Association gave Dunlap a unanimous “Well Qualified” rating, the highest possible rating for a judicial nominee, according to Collins spokesperson Blake Kernen.
“It is not surprising that Democrats and partisan groups are misleading Mainers on Mr. Dunlap’s record,” Kernan said. “Mr. Dunlap addressed these claims at his hearing and in questions for the record, and testified to his commitment to faithfully and impartially apply the Constitution and federal law, adhering to all binding precedent.”
Dunlap himself has not responded to a request for comment. The first circuit covers Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.
