North Carolina Governor’s Statement Wrongly Slams ‘Obama Courts’
Gov. Pat McCrory has just issued a statement attacking a federal appeals court decision Tuesday that upheld the equality rights of transgender students. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to rehear a Virginia case yesterday in which it had already decided that under federal law transgender students have the right to sue for sex discrimination. North Carolina is under the rule of the 4th Circuit, and Gov. McCrory knows that this is yet another ruling that proves his anti-LGBT law HB2 illegal.
In his statement the North Carolina Republican governor attacks the “Obama courts and administration” for wanting to ensure transgender students are not discriminated against.
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But Tuesday’s majority ruling was written by a judge originally placed on the federal bench by President George W. Bush. And while President Obama nominated Judge Henry Floyd to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, he was unanimously confirmed in 2011 by a majority Republican Senate, 96-0. A South Carolina native, his nomination was supported by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham.
McCrory also quotes Judge Paul Niemeyer, who wrote the dissenting opinion in Tuesday’s 2-1 ruling. McCrory forgot to mention Niemeyer dissented.
In his statement (above, via Buzzfeed’s Dominic Holden), McCrory also calls for the Virginia case to head to the U.S. Supreme Court. Given the court’s current makeup, it’s more than likely the 4th Circuit ruling will be upheld.
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