Trump Fills 50th Appeals Court Seat With ‘Unqualified’ Pick (1)

Lawrence VanDyke became President Donald Trump’s 50th appellate court appointment on Dec. 11 despite an American Bar Association assessment in which his peers called him “lazy, arrogant” and “an ideologue” in finding him unqualified for the job.

The Republican-led Senate voted 51 to 44 to confirm VanDyke to a lifetime appointment, achieving a milestone for the president and adding to his push to reshape the judiciary with conservatives. Susan Collins of Maine was the only Republican to join Democrats in voting no on VanDyke, who will fill a Nevada seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. ...