The nomination of Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Plano attorney who has worked with the anti-LGBT law firm First Liberty Institute, passed out of committee this week and is waiting for Senate approval for a lifetime appointment as a federal judge in Amarillo.
Kacsmaryk has signed a letter calling transgender people delusional, opposed the Obergefell marriage equality decision and represented a bakery in Oregon that refused to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple. The Senate voted almost along party lines to clear the path for his confirmation.
Susan Collins (R-Maine) was the only Republican to vote against him in a near party-line vote clearing the nomination for a vote by the Senate. Collins, who likes to portray herself as a moderate, often talks about opposing particularly controversial conservative nominees such as Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, then votes for them. She’s up for re-election in 2020 and may face fierce opposition.
Sen John Cornyn defended his fellow Texan saying Kacsmaryk will keep his judicial views separate from his personal views and whom he defended as an attorney.
HRC opposes his nomination.
“He has been vociferous in his opposition to same-sex marriage, legal protections for gender identity and sexual orientation, and the basic humanity of transgender people,” said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow.
— David Taffet
