The former Ninth Circuit judge, Paul Watford, recently opened up about his decision to step down from the bench, attributing it to the Supreme Court’s decisions in Dobbs and Bruen. In an interview with the National Law Journal he revealed that his views as a judge did not sync with the majority at the Supreme Court, leading to conflicts with his own interpretations of the law.
Watford noted that he had ongoing cases relating to abortion and gun rights at the time Dobbs and Bruen were decided, and it became clear these cases would be influenced by the Supreme Court’s decisions. He faced the struggle of faithfully applying decisions he fundamentally disagreed with, leading him to question if he wished to continue his legal career in this manner.
“I was disheartened when Bruen and Dobbs were decided… I struggled with ‘What does this mean in terms of where the Supreme Court is headed?'” Watford stated.
However, Watford didn’t immediately consider stepping down following these decisions. It was only after a conversation with Judge Gary Feinerman, who also resigned, that Watford began to rethink the trajectory of his career. Feinerman’s decision and the concerns that led him to resign instilled similar questions in Watford, making him realize there were other paths he could enjoy more than remaining on the bench.
Watford decided to return to private practice, joining Wilson Sonsini as a partner. Despite his resignation, he looks back on his 11 years on the bench as a high form of public service, appreciating the opportunity to apply the law impartially and earn public respect as a decision maker. For further details, you can read the full interview here.