NCJW opposes John Guard. Here’s why:
Mr. Guard has built a career advancing hardline conservative cases, from shielding the Sackler family with a controversial $7.4 billion immunity deal to joining Republican attacks on Dr. Fauci and President Biden’s COVID-19 policies. As Florida’s Attorney General, he defended the state’s 15-week abortion ban and challenged Biden-era immigration policies. Mr. Guard is currently a member of the Federalist Society and was listed on a lawsuit challenging LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination in health care, further underscoring a pattern of ideological extremism and calling into question his ability to serve as an impartial judge.
John Guard’s stance on important issues:
Public Health:
Mr. Guard played a central role in securing the $7.4 billion from Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family for fueling the opioid epidemic, ensuring that the Sacklers got sweeping legal immunity while shielding their personal wealth from opioid-related lawsuits and guaranteeing that they would not have to admit any form of wrongdoing. Mr. Guard also joined a group of Republican attorneys general in signing onto a letter demanding an investigation into Dr. Anthony Fauci and the Biden administration’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Immigration:
As the Chief Deputy, Mr. Guard led a major litigation effort on behalf of the state of Florida, challenging the Biden-era’s Department of Homeland Security policies that Florida officials argued permitted the unlawful release of undocumented migrants.
Abortion:
Mr. Guard defended Florida’s 15-week abortion ban in Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida v. State of Florida.
Education and Career Highlights:
John Guard received his BA from Florida State University and his JD from Tulane University. After graduating law school, he worked at Holland & Knight LLP, and then completed a federal clerkship at the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He later returned to Holland and Knight LLP before serving as an Assistant US Attorney in Jacksonville. Mr. Guard became a partner at Quarles & Brady LLP and went on to serve as Florida’s Chief Deputy Attorney General. He was briefly the Interim Attorney General, but now is currently once again serving as Chief Deputy.