Citizens Oppose 'States' Rights' Nominee Sutton
Feature Story by civilrights.org staff - 3/4/2003
Average citizens came together with Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and the National Coalition Disability Rights to express their concerns regarding Jeffrey Sutton's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit.The speakers stated that that Sutton's legal opinions and arguments on behalf of states' rights endanger basic rights by undermining Congress' ability to protect Americans against discrimination based on race, age, disability, and religion.
Bonnie Sanders, President of South Camden Citizens in Action in New Jersey, whose community has a high incidence of cancer and respiratory problems due to waste dumping, told how she was thwarted in her attempt to sue the state of New Jersey, due to previous arguments by Sutton the Third Circuit held that the environmental regulations could not be enforced by federal regulation.
Two women recounted how their lives had been affected as a result of Sutton's legal arguments. Patricia Garrett said she had filed a lawsuit against the state of Alabama alleging that she had been fired from the University of Alabama hospital, because she had breast cancer. However, Sutton successfully argued before the Supreme Court that the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a federal law, could not be applied at the state level, and, thus, individuals had no right to sue the state. Judy Jones recounted how her successful suit against her state employer was reversed as a result of the Supreme Court's decision.
Senator Harkin stated that "Jeffrey Sutton's legal world excludes an awful lot of people...and he is a judicial activist" and said that as many as 400 groups have expressed opposition to Sutton. Harkin also announced his intention to vote "no" on the Sutton nomination.
