In a recent conversation with The National Law Journal, former appellate judge Paul Watford, who served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, opened up about the reasons behind his disheartenment and subsequent resignation from the court following the Supreme Court’s landmark revisions to gun-rights and abortion precedents in 2022.
Watford declared, “I certainly was disheartened when Bruen and Dobbs were decided”, referencing the cases which saw the Supreme Court overturning a long-standing gun-rights precedent and a historic abortion ruling. He expressed that this disheartenment was among the primary reasons leading him to contemplate, and ultimately decide on, stepping down from his position.
Post his departure from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit earlier this year, Watford joined legal powerhouse Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Ronsati. During his interaction with the National Law Journal, Watford provided further insight into his time on the bench. However, the highlights and specifics of their conversation remain under wraps, with only a brief excerpt available.
Watford’s candidness about his thought process during the time of his resignation offers a valuable perspective and underscores the significance of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decisions. His story continues to unfold, indicating that the reverberations from these pivotal court cases are still being felt in the legal world.