WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court’s landmark decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has created a tidal wave of reaction. President Joe Biden quickly expressed his disapproval and encouraged abortion rights advocates to get out and vote, but now Democrats in Kentucky are confirming Biden’s plan to nominate an anti-abortion lawyer to a federal judgeship. 

What You Need To Know

  • Kentucky Democrats say President Joe Biden intends to nominate an anti-abortion lawyer to a federal judgeship in the state

  • Rep. John Yarmuth called this potential nomination a “huge mistake,” adding that he made his opinion clear when he spoke with White House staff

  • Gov. Andy Beshear said this nomination would be “indefensible”

 

Kentucky’s only Democrat in Congress, Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, said White House staff informed him of the president’s plan to nominate Chad Meredith to a federal judgeship in Kentucky. 

Federal judiciary appointments are lifelong, and right now there are no judicial vacancies listed in the state. 

“Clearly someone has agreed to resign,” said Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, “We don’t know who that is. We don’t know what deal has been made with that person.” 

Yarmuth called Meredith’s potential nomination a “huge mistake,” adding that he made his opinion clear when he spoke with the White House staff. 

“Why you would pick him to fill a federal vacancy when you’re a Democratic president is beyond me,” Yarmuth said. 

Democratic Governor Andy Beshear said his team received a heads up about the potential nomination. During a news conference on Thursday, Beshear questioned a series of controversial pardons that Meredith helped issue when serving in former Republican Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration. 

“If the president makes the nomination, it is indefensible. This is an individual that aided and advised in the most egregious abuse of power in my lifetime,” said Beshear. 

 

Meredith previously served as solicitor general in Kentucky and has received praise from various anti-abortion groups. Yarmuth is speculating that this nomination is a part of a deal with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. 

“I think that’s one of the things that this state and country ought to be upset about because Mitch McConnell was not elected by anyone outside of Kentucky and his is imposing his individual will on the federal judiciary and on the President of the United States,” said Yarmuth. “Just because he has the power to do it, not because it makes good sense for the country.” 

 

McConnell’s team tells Spectrum News 1 that he will not have a comment on Meredith’s potential nomination until a nomination is made. The White House has not yet returned a request for comment.