Judge Halil Suleyman "Sul" Ozerden is the wrong nominee to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit. The 5th Circuit is the federal appellate court with jurisdiction over district courts in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
Ozerden is currently a district judge for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Ozerden refused to hear the complaint of the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi, whose leaders said the Obamacare contraceptive mandate violated their religious liberty and their deeply held religious belief in the sanctity of human life.
Email your Senator now and urge him/her to oppose the nomination of Judge Sul Ozerden to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently released a statement declaring that he would oppose the nomination of Ozerden. Cruz stated:
For a lifetime appointment on the Court of Appeals, I believe we should be looking for someone with a strong, demonstrated record as a constitutionalist. I have significant concerns that Judge Ozerden’s judicial record does not indicate that he meets that standard. For that reason, I do not believe he should be on the Court of Appeals, and I will oppose his nomination.
AFA agrees with Cruz. Ozerden has a weak record on religious liberty and is not the type of judge President Donald J. Trump promised he would appoint.
AFA appreciates Cruz's strong leadership demanding the approval of only verifiably conservative judicial nominees. Washington needs more leaders like Ted Cruz.
Send your email and urge your senator to oppose the nomination of Judge Sul Ozerden to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
In 2012, 79 members of Congress came to the aid of the Catholic Diocese by signing a letter to Ozerden's court stating the Obamacare contraceptive mandate is "unconstitutional." In reference to these members of the U.S. House of Representatives, the document states: "All … are dedicated to the founding principles of religious freedom in this country. They believe that the laws of this nation do not empower HHS (Obamacare) to force people of faith to violate their religious principles."
They also claimed "the Mandate imposes a substantial burden on individuals and organizations, including the Catholic Plaintiffs, … who firmly oppose having to subsidize, provide, and/or facilitate sterilization, contraceptives, and abortion-inducing drugs, and related patient education and counseling services, based on sincere religious beliefs."
Ozerden ignored the plea of these members on behalf of the Catholic Diocese. Ozerden closed his courtroom doors and refused to give religious liberty a chance.
Current federal officials who called on Ozerden's court to support the Catholic Diocese include:
Marsha Blackburn (TN, currently U.S. senator and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee), Rep. Kevin Brady (TX), Bill Cassidy (LA, currently U.S. senator), Michael Conaway (TX), John Fleming (LA, currently assistant secretary of the Department of Commerce for Economic Development), Bill Flores (TX), Gregg Harper (MS, no longer in office), Vicky Hartzler (MO), Jim Jordan (OH), James Lankford (OK, currently U.S. senator), Mick Mulvaney (SC, currently White House chief of staff), Alan Nunnelee (MS, now deceased), Pete Olson (TX), Steven Palazzo (MS), Mike Pompeo (KS, currently U.S. secretary of state), and Steve Scalise (LA).
Send your email and urge your senator to oppose the nomination of Judge Sul Ozerden to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
