The federal appellate court nominee Nicole Berner, a seasoned labor lawyer, found herself on the receiving end of probing questions from Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. The focus of the queries was a previous statement by Berner, in which she labeled the “right-to-work” movement as racist. Law.com reported on these developments.
“Right-to-work” laws feature in at least 27 states across the United States. These laws protect the rights of employees who choose not to join a labor union.
Certain GOP senators seized on a speech given by Berner where she branded the movement as “deeply racist”. The senators put forth their concerns during the nomination proceedings for the U.S. Circuit Court for the Fourth Circuit. Berner’s positions on labor laws are being scrutinized given her long history as a labor lawyer.