Reject/ Vote NO on Zealot Pemberton for Oklahoma Federal Bench

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you firmly urge you to reject the nomination of Trevor Pemberton to the United District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. He’s another abnormal white man that has quite the slanted and unjust record. In private practice and as general counsel for Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Pemberton has shown consistent hostility toward tribal sovereignty and the rights of ordinary Oklahomans. If confirmed to a lifetime seat on the federal bench, I have no doubt that Pemberton’s demonstrated commitment to furthering far-right ideologies will drive his decision making, undermining the Constitution, fairness, and equal justice for all. The Eastern District of Oklahoma is home to the headquarters of tribes that include the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee (Creek), and Seminole Nations. Federal courts within this district play a significant role in adjudicating cases that will impact Native people and tribal sovereignty. Pemberton has demonstrated a history of advocating policies and legal positions adverse to Native people and tribal sovereignty. He’s still living in the 19th century it seems. Beyond his work fighting to limit tribal sovereignty, Pemberton sought to advance Governor Stitt’s broader far-right agenda, including the further erosion of the separation between church and state. Most notably, Pemberton served as the counsel of record on an amicus brief before the Supreme Court in St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School v. Drummond. Pemberton’s brief sided with St. Isidore’s efforts to create the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school. Pemberton’s zealous advocacy in this case demonstrates his willingness to further erode the already crumbling wall between church and state in service of the far right’s agenda. He also has a poor record with energy ratepayers, consistently taking money from Oklahoma Gas to present their cases that always hurt the citizens. For all these reasons, I strongly oppose the confirmation of Trevor Pemberton. He will betray his oath to the state, the country and the Constitution. Vote NO. Thank you.