Cindy Carr, (202) 495-3034 or cindy.carr@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved Andrew Oldham’s nomination to the judiciary for the Fifth Circuit Court along party lines. Oldham is one of the youngest of Trump’s nominees for a seat on the circuit court of appeals, and if approved by the full Senate, will hold a lifetime appointment to the judiciary.
During his tenure as Texas General Counsel, Oldham sued the EPA in conjunction with Scott Pruitt, who was then the Oklahoma Attorney General, to prevent the agency from using the authority that Congress gave it to limit dangerous air pollution. In those lawsuits, Oldham represented Texas before the Supreme Court in an effort to block the EPA from addressing the climate crisis and reducing air pollution. He has repeatedly demonized and criticized lifesaving commonsense environmental safeguards that protect communities, air, and water across the country. He has gone far beyond challenging particular environmental standards; he has in fact questioned the very legitimacy of the Environmental Protection Agency and the other federal agencies that protect workers, consumers, and the general public.
The full Senate will now vote on Oldham’s nomination. The Sierra Club previously submitted a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee in opposition to Oldham’s nomination.
In response, Sierra Club Chief Climate Council Joanne Spalding released the following statement:
“Andrew Oldham’s track record proves that he cannot be impartial on rulings regarding the environment and cannot be relied upon to enforce the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, or any of the other legal safeguards Congress has enacted to protect our communities and our environment. His extreme views would threaten the entire fabric of health and safety protections that our country has relied on for decades.
“Given his dangerous ideological worldview and disdain for environmental law, it is clear that Andrew Oldham is unfit to serve in the judiciary, and the Sierra Club urges the Senate to reject his nomination.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.