North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park announced on Thursday that he has formally withdrawn his candidacy for a seat on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. This decision follows months of stalled progress on his nomination, which President Joe Biden put forward in July. Park’s withdrawal highlights the political complexities surrounding judicial confirmations in the U.S. Senate.
Bipartisan Deal Blocks Park’s Path to Confirmation
Park’s nomination became one of four appellate court appointments derailed by a post-election deal between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Republicans. Under the agreement, Democrats agreed not to push forward on these appellate nominations in exchange for advancing votes on a dozen district court nominees.
A spokesperson for Schumer acknowledged that the four appellate nominees, including Park, lacked sufficient Senate support for confirmation. The roadblock in Park’s case largely stemmed from opposition by Republican Senator Thom Tillis, one of his home state senators. Tillis publicly stated he had secured the bipartisan votes necessary to block Park’s confirmation.
“It may have taken a while, but the Biden administration finally understood I wasn’t bluffing,” Tillis remarked in a statement.
Park Reflects on His Withdrawal and Future Plans
After officially withdrawing his nomination, Park shared his thoughts on social media. “Thank you for your support, from the bottom of my heart, but no need to pour one out for me!” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. While disappointed, Park expressed gratitude for the opportunity and confirmed his intent to continue practicing law.
North Carolina Attorney General-elect Jeff Jackson, a Democrat, has asked Park to remain in his current role as the state’s solicitor general. Park has held this position since 2020 and has served in the state’s attorney general’s office since 2017.
Park is perhaps best known for arguing on behalf of the University of North Carolina in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that ended affirmative action in college admissions. Despite the case’s unfavorable outcome, Park gained recognition as a leading appellate lawyer.
Implications for the 4th Circuit Court
If confirmed, Park would have become the first Asian American judge on the 4th Circuit, which currently has a Democratic-appointed majority with nine of its 15 active judges. He was nominated to succeed U.S. Circuit Judge James Wynn, who announced his intention to take senior status contingent on the confirmation of his successor.
With Park’s nomination withdrawn, the future of this judicial seat remains uncertain. Should two Democratic-appointed judges on appellate courts proceed with their retirements, President-elect Donald Trump may have an opportunity to nominate replacements, significantly impacting the ideological balance of these courts.
The White House officially withdrew Park’s nomination on Thursday, marking the end of his bid for the federal judiciary. The situation underscores the contentious and often unpredictable nature of the judicial nomination process.
