© Greg Nash
Sen. Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal MORE (R-Maine) on Tuesday voted against one of President Trump
Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE's district court nominees.
Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal MORE (R-Maine) on Tuesday voted against one of President TrumpDonald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE's district court nominees. A final vote on Pitlyk is scheduled for Wednesday. She overcame Tuesday's hurdle in a 50-43 vote, meaning she's likely to be confirmed.
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Collins, a moderate senator who is up for reelection next year, has opposed several judicial picks recently, including Steven Menashi for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Chad Readler for the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals and Wendy Vitter to be a district judge.
She added that Pitlyk's "lack of trial experience would make it difficult for her to transition to a district court judgeship."
Pitlyk's was rated "not qualified" by the American Bar Association, according to a memo sent to Senate Judiciary Committee leadership. The outside group's standing committee said it "believes that Ms. Pitlyk does not have the requisite trial or litigation experience or its equivalent."
Pitlyk — who serves as the special counsel for the Thomas More Society, a conservative law firm — told the National Catholic Register that "surrogacy is harmful to mothers and children, so it’s a practice society should not be enforcing."
"My concern is not based on Ms. Pitlyk’s personal views on abortion or various medical decisions, which she has every right to hold. I do question, however, given her pattern of strident advocacy, whether she could put aside her personal views on these matters," Collins added.
