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The Senate Judiciary Committee is hearing this a.m. from 5th Circuit nominee Judge Sul Ozerden — he's one to watch, since he's faced some oppo from the right. His home state senators from Mississippi are introducing him now and expressing strong support
Cruz says he has "significant concerns" about Ozeden because he doesnt see any substantive evidence of a judicial record that shows the judge is a "strong constitutionalist" — so that's the first sign of trouble for Ozerden
Cruz presses Ozerden to address criticism that he doesn't have a proven conservative track record. Ozerden says he's spent most of his career in public service, which limits activity he can be involved in, and he can't pick and choose what cases he's gotten as a district judge
This is the 2012 ruling from Ozerden that Cruz focused on: assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6204… He dismissed a challenge to the ACA's contraception mandate for lack of jurisdiction, finding the matter wasn't ripe b/c the regs were being amended. Today, he explained he was bound by precedent.
Hirono asks if Ozerden joined the Federalist Society in 2019 in an effort to curry favor on the right. Ozerden replied he didn't have a local chapter until recently. She asks why he didn't join the national group. He says that without a local chapter, there wouldn't be much to do
Back at the Ozerden hearing, Hawley asks about critism that the judge's reversal rate is high. Ozerden says that information is wrong and he doesn't know where the 25% figure circulating around comes from — he says his reversal rate is 4%, and he's adamant about that
