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WATCHDOG: Trump Judicial Nominee Bill Mercer Holds Dangerous Record of Politicizing and Attacking Montana Supreme Court’s Independence
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, a new Accountable.US report is exposing how President Donald Trump’s judicial nominee Bill Mercer, whose nomination will receive a Senate Judiciary Committee vote this week, holds a record of undermining the Montana Supreme Court’s judicial independence – a perilous effort that signals how he may rule if he is confirmed to a lifetime appointment on the federal bench.
The Montana Supreme Court is comprised of nonpartisan, elected judges. In recent years, Montana’s highest state court has struck down Republican-backed bills, including laws limiting voting and abortion access. Montana Republicans have responded by introducing 27 pieces of legislation this year aimed at reshaping the state judiciary. Their bills would have made judicial elections more partisan and created a judicial performance evaluation system, among other extreme measures.
Trump’s nominee to the District of Montana and current Montana state representative Bill Mercer voted in favor of more than a dozen of those bills to politicize and undermine Montana courts. In 2023, he even sponsored a bill to take away Montana voters’ right to elect their state supreme court justices, despite 91% of Montanans opposing such an amendment.
Since retaking office, Donald Trump has handpicked judicial nominees who have a demonstrated record prioritizing loyalty to the President over impartiality on the courts. Bill Mercer is no different, and his record of supporting bills to politicize the Montana Supreme Court, remove authority from voters, and rebalance the scales of power toward the executive branch is beyond concerning. It’s clear that if Mercer is confirmed he would be a reliable vote for undermining the independence and impartiality of federal courts.”
