NCJW opposes Chad Meredith. Here’s why:
Chad Meredith’s record raises serious concerns about his ability to serve as a fair and independent federal judge. He has zealously defended anti-abortion laws, including efforts to block clinic licensing and impose medically unnecessary restrictions, earning praise from Kentucky Right to Life. He also defended Kentucky’s Right to Work laws and sought to strip the governor of emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic. His involvement in ethically questionable pardons under former Governor Bevin, including one linked to a political donor, further calls his judgment into question. Such a record falls short of the standards expected of a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.
Chad Meredith’s stance on important issues:
Abortion:
On behalf of Kentucky, Mr. Meredith defended a law requiring physicians to provide, display, and describe a mandatory pre-abortion ultrasound to patients, regardless of the patient’s wishes and despite the lack of medical necessity for such a procedure. Mr. Meredith asserted the law was justified because “there are a number of patients who don’t understand the nature of the fetus within them.” Further, he argued that the state’s interest in compelling doctors to perform this invasive procedure outweighed the physician’s First Amendment rights. Mr. Meredith also defended Kentucky’s transport and transfer law and regulation, which made it impossible for clinics in the state to obtain the necessary licensing to provide abortion care. While Mr. Meredith was Deputy General Counsel to Governor Matt Bevin, Bevin’s administration brought an action against a Planned Parenthood clinic in the state alleging the clinic operated without a license — despite the state previously directing the clinic to begin operations in order to obtain an inspection and secure the necessary license. The same transfer law threatened EMW Surgical Center, the only remaining abortion clinic in the state at the time, with closure. Mr. Meredith characterized the potential impact of this outcome as “essentially none” because of Kentucky’s “unique” geography; the farthest a person would need to travel for abortion care would be only 150 miles to a clinic in a bordering state. In addition to his work defending Kentucky’s anti-abortion laws, Mr. Meredith has submitted three separate amicus briefs in support of anti-abortion laws in Tennessee and Indiana.
Workers Rights:
In 2018, Mr. Meredith represented Kentucky in defending its “right-to-work” law against a challenge from labor unions.
Public Health:
Mr. Meredith argued in favor of a state law that stripped the current governor of his ability to enforce Covid-19 emergency restrictions. In the year prior, Mr. Meredith challenged the governor’s emergency orders issued in response to the pandemic.
Education and Career Highlights:
Chad Meredith earned his JD from the University of Kentucky and his BA from Washington and Lee University. At the beginning of his legal career, Mr. Meredith served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Judge Amul Thapa of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Judge John Rogers of the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He later joined Frost Brown Todd as a litigator before working for Ransdell and Roach. In 2015, Mr. Meredith was appointed by Governor Matt Bevin to serve as the chief deputy general counsel. In 2019, he was appointed as the Solicitor General of Kentucky and is now currently working as Partner at Squire Patton Boggs.