9th Circuit's Watford, onetime Supreme Court contender, to resign

Watford's decision creates the first new appellate court vacancy for President Joe Biden to fill since the Democrats successfully kept control of the U.S. Senate in the midterm elections.

Watford, 55, is resigning from his life-tenured, $236,900-a-year position before becoming eligible for retirement or senior status at age 65, drawing comparisons from legal experts on Twitter to past judges who left the bench young for financial reasons.he sent to Biden, Watford did not explain why he was stepping down but called deciding to do so come May 31, "one of the most difficult decisions I have had to make in my life."U.S.

Watford said he was "not sure yet what I will be doing next, but I anticipate returning to private practice." He had been a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson in Los Angeles prior to his appointment to the 9th Circuit, the largest of the federal appeals courts. Watford, a onetime clerk to former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, was considered by Obama as a potential nominee to succeed conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia following his death in 2016.The decision to not consider Garland, now Biden's attorney general, left a seat open that Republican President Donald Trump was able to fill with his own choice, Neil Gorsuch, after winning the White House.

On the 9th Circuit, Watford wrote the majority opinion in a 7-4 en banc ruling in 2014 striking down as unconstitutional a Los Angeles ordinance that let police view hotel guest registries without warrants. The Supreme Court voted 5-4 to affirm in 2015., Watford wrote for a three-judge panel in August in finding that posts that a Arizona police sergeant made on his personal Facebook page denigrating Muslims that led to him being disciplined were protected free speech.

Law Law Latest News, Law Law Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Fifth Circuit Court: A Bump Stock is Not a 'Machine Gun'The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit struck down the ATF’s bump stock ban on Friday, noting that a bump stock is not a “machine gun.” deplorable1971 Republicans support anything that makes slaughtering school children easier. This I exactly what the left does...blames Republicans for what THEY are actually doing. Doesn't work anymore guys. We have your nunber...
Source: BreitbartNews - 🏆 610. / 51 Read more »

Box of unclaimed World War I medals found in Kendall CountyA box of unclaimed World War I medals has been found in Kendall County, and now officials are trying to make sure the medals get to the families of the long-ago heroes. It’s just not important enough that if you don’t subscribe, you’re family loses out
Source: chicagotribune - 🏆 8. / 91 Read more »

Despite court order, SF sweeps homeless encampments amid stormsThe city is carrying out sweeps even after a preliminary injunction, according to a new court filing. Good 👍 Good! I've seen tents on the islands on Geary Blvd. Very good. Streets, public spaces, bus stops, BART, islands (like the on dividing Embarcadero and many more streets), sidewalks etc are not bedrooms.
Source: SFGate - 🏆 534. / 51 Read more »