President Joe Biden planned to nominate anti-abortion Republican Chad Meredith for federal judge in the Eastern District of Kentucky the day the Roe vs. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States.
On the afternoon of 23 June, an email from the White House announced to the governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, the president’s nomination.
However, when the Supreme Court released its controversial decision, Meredith’s nomination, which had not been disclosed to the public, was neither announced nor presented by the White House.
With the annulment of Roe vs. Wade, who ended the federal constitutional right to abortion, had abortion banned in Kentucky due to his trigger law.
Last week, The Courier Journal obtained the email to be sent, which it was undated and was sent by White House aide Kathleen M. Marshall at 4: 16 pm Eastern time.
It read: “To be nominated tomorrow:…Stephen Chad Meredith: Candidate for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.”
The Governor of Kentucky stated that he was told last week about Meredith’s nomination.
Although his office did not disclose the date, The Courier Journal stated that the email was sent on 23 June.
The aforementioned outlet submitted requests for open records officially seeking the publication of the email and the corresponding communications between the governor’s office and the White House.
But received a denial from Beshear’s office, noting that the documents were “preliminary” and therefore exempt under Kentucky’s open records law. The Courier Journal will appeal that decision.
Chad Meredith, whom Biden intended to nominate, is a member of the Federalist Society who served as deputy counsel to former Republican Gov. Bevin and, more recently, as Attorney General for Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron.