NCJW opposes Matthew Schwartz, here’s why
Matthew Schwartz is yet another of President Trump’s personal lawyers who has been rewarded with a nomination to a lifetime seat on the federal bench. He continues to represent Mr. Trump, his family, and affiliated organizations in a civil case involving financial fraud. Beyond his close professional ties to the President, Mr. Schwartz has a long record of advancing views that call into question his commitment to equal rights and protections for all people. His writings and advocacy reflect hostility toward reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, diversity initiatives, and other efforts to expand civil rights and opportunity. Taken together, this record raises serious concerns about whether he possesses the independence and fidelity to equal justice that are essential for a lifetime appointment to the federal bench.
Matthew Schwartz stance on important issues:
Reproductive Rights
In a November 1998 Princeton Tory piece titled “Professing Infanticide,” Matthew Schwartz criticized the medical profession’s role in reproductive care, warning that “[s]ome doctors will, undoubtedly, have no qualms with killing even healthy babies.”
Civil Rights
Also in the Princeton Tory, Matthew Schwartz wrote that bioethicist Peter Singer’s promotion of increased funding for individuals with disabilities was “akin to saying that black babies should be killed but that affirmative action should be strengthened.” Also in the same publication, as an undergraduate, Schwartz decried what was the first same-sex marriage in the Princeton University chapel, saying, “The homosexual community is fighting a crusade not only for its misconceived notion of equal rights, but also for religion to recognize and approve homosexual lifestyles.” Going further to say that gay people having equal rights wasn’t good for society and any claims that same-sex marriage “seemingly disproves the promiscuity of gays” were wrong. Mr. Schwartz personally attacked DEI and its role in universities. Ahead of the 2003 Supreme Court case on race conscious admissions policies in higher education, he co-authored a Wall Street Journal op-ed attacking DEI, saying “by pursuing the diversity rationale, universities have sacrificed their higher calling to truth.”
Education and Career Highlights:
Matthew Schwartz received his BA from Princeton in 2000, and his JD from Columbia Law in 2003. After graduating from law school, he clerked for then-Judge Samuel Alito on the Third Circuit Court. From his clerkship, Mr. Schwartz then went to Cravath, Swain & Moore as an associate in 2004. In 2006, he again clerked for Justice Alito on the US Supreme Court. Afterwards, Mr. Schwartz joined his current firm, Sullivan & Cromwell, where he became a partner in 2012. He is a high-level donor to the Federalist Society.