A New Judge in Town: What You Need to Know About Eric Tung

Background

• Name: Eric Tung
• Current Role: Lawyer from Los Angeles
• Nomination: Judge on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
• Replacing: Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta
• Known For:
• Strong conservative views
• Work in the crypto industry
• Competitive shooting
• Catholic faith

Nomination Details

• Picked By: President Trump
• Supported By: Mike Davis, a key figure in Trump's legal circle
• Trump's Statement: Called Tung a "Tough Patriot" who will uphold the rule of law in liberal states like California, Oregon, and Washington.

Controversies and Opposition

• Criticism From: Senator Alex Padilla
• Concern: Tung's views on the Constitution could lead to inequality and exclude many Americans from equal justice.
• Tradition Ignored: Senators from a nominee's home state could historically block a nomination, but Trump has ignored this tradition.

Professional Background

• Education:
• Yale
• University of Chicago Law School
• Clerked For:
• Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Neil Gorsuch
• Work Experience:
• Law firm Jones Day, which has ties to the Trump Justice Department.

Reactions to Nomination

• Supporting Groups:
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Assn.
• Judicial Crisis Network
• Opposing Groups:
• Alliance for Justice
• Demand Justice

Impact on the 9th Circuit

• If Confirmed: Trump's 11th appointment to the 9th Circuit.
• Court History: Known for liberal leanings, but Trump has been changing that.
• Controversial Decisions by Other Trump Judges:
• Allowed the military to be deployed on American streets.
• Paused the refugee program.

Personal Views and Stances

• Religious Liberty: Strong views.
• Affirmative Action: Opposes.
• Anti-Abortion Movement: Involved with his wife, Emily Lataif.
• Confirmation Hearings:
• Avoided answering some questions, which some senators found suspicious.
• Wouldn't say whether he thought landmark cases like Obergefell vs. Hodges and Lawrence vs. Texas were decided correctly.
• Believes in the 1967 case Loving vs. Virginia, which legalized interracial marriage, because he and his wife are an interracial couple.