William G. Myers III
William G. Myers III is one of the GW Bush appointees to the federal bench whose confirmation was held up during Bush's first term through the fillibuster process. He has been renominated by Bush.
Education
- 1977 - College of William and Mary, BA
- 1981 - University of Denver College of Law, JD
Experience
- 1981-84 - Associate, Davis & Canon
- 1985-89 - Legislative Counsel, U.S. Senator Alan Simpson (D-WY)
- 1989-92 - Assistant to the Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
- 1992-93 - Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Department of Energy
- 1993-97 - Director, Federal Lands National Cattlemen's Beef Association
- 1993-97 - Executive Director, Public Lands Council
- 1997-01 - Holland & Hart, LLP
- 2001-03 - Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior
- 2003-now - Partner, Holland & Hart, LLP
Questions Regarding Competency and Fairness
Myers has exhibited open hostility to EPA standards, the Endangered Species Act, and has publicly disagreed with the rights expressed in the Supreme Court Cases Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade. He has also stated his agreement with the Supreme Court Case Bowers v Hardwicke, eventhough that decision had recently been reversed in Lawrence v. Texas.
Myers private practice experience has primarily been as a lobbyist for mining interests and cattle ranchers. He has very limited actual litigation experience, has never argued a case in front of a jury and has never been a judge.
Independent Judiciary reported that:
- "Likely because of his lack of experience, the American Bar Association gave Myers its lowest passing rating of Q/NQ-a bare majority of eight or nine of the fifteen members on the ABA committee rated him qualified, a substantial minority found him not qualified and no committee member found him well qualified."
The Independent Judiciary[1] also lists 182 organizations publicly opposed to the Myers nomination.
External links
- Charles Babington, Judicial Nominee Criticized - Actions at Interior Dept. Questioned by Inspector General, Washington Post, February 16, 2005
- Brodie Farquhar, Interior report slams grazing deal, Caspar Star Tribune, February 18, 2005
- Scott Sonner, Fed official assuages ranchers, AP via Las Vegas Review Journal, November 16, 2002
- Cooperative Research's Myers page
- Independent Judiciary's Myers page
- Leadership Council on Civil Rights' Myers page
- People for the American Way's Myers page
