Do you remember the name Neal Katyal? He served as acting solicitor general during the Obama administration and was one of the people chosen to introduce Neil Gorsuch during his confirmation hearing:
Many are asking why I support J.Gorsuch.I hope you read my views here https://t.co/qb6rRgPNfX I know many disagree.I understand&respect that
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 20, 2017
Anyway, Katyal was also hired by the state of Hawaii to argue against President Trump’s most recent immigration executive order — which he just won, preventing the Trump administration from implementing the new rules:
We have just won in #HawaiivsTrump. Trump Admin lost everything it sought. Complete injunction on Sections 2 and 6 of Executive Order. 1/
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
"It is hereby ADJUDGED, ORDERED, and DECREED that:Defendants and all their respective officers,agents,servants, employees, and attorneys" 2/
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
and persons in active concert or participation with them, are hereby
enjoined from enforcing or implementing Sections 2 and 6 3/— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
of the Executive Order across the Nation. Enforcement of these provisions in all places, including the United States,at all United States 4/
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
borders and ports of entry, and in the issuance of visas is prohibited, pending further orders from this Court." 5/6
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
This is the 3d proceeding in #HawaiivsTrump. All 3 have been straight losses for Trump.Will post opinion here soon: https://t.co/m7dDS6AKkf
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
And the judge cited all of Trump’s past rhetoric in his decision:
Key language in #HawaiivsTrump decn just released: When “the adoption of the challenged Executive Order are as full of religious animus,"1/
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
invective,and obvious pretext as is the record here,it is no wonder that the Government urges the Court to altogether ignore that history 2/
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
and context…The Court will not crawl into a corner, pull the shutters closed, and pretend it has not seen what it has.” 3/3
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) March 30, 2017
Trump hasn’t tweeted yet about the decision, but it should be interesting when he does given Katyal’s strong endorsement of Gorsuch.
Katyal explained his reasoning for crossing party lines to support Gorsuch in an interview with the National Law Journal. An excerpt:
“I introduced Judge Gorsuch because he is, in my judgment, an outstanding judge,” Katyal said in an email to The National Law Journal on Tuesday. “Just plain merit. And because I wanted people to say what they believe. If you are someone so outraged by what has happened to Merrick Garland that you can’t vote for anyone, say that. What I think is inappropriate is to attempt to destroy and caricature an honorable man and judge up in the process. And that’s why I said what I said.”
Katyal shrugged off the hostile reaction to his Gorsuch endorsement. “I’ve had all sorts of hate mails and angry conversations before!” Katyal said. “I think the real issue is what it underscores about the confirmation process. Many of my friends, including the most talented people in my generation, are refusing to put themselves through what has become a completely broken confirmation process.”
***
Join the conversation as a VIP Member