In nominating Maine native Joshua Dunlap for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, Sen. Susan Collins has made an outstanding choice. As Josh’s former law partner, I know first-hand of his superb qualifications: his intelligence, thoughtfulness, humility and love of the law and the constitution are exceptional.  He will work vigorously for the impartial dispensation of equal justice under the rule of law. 

In better times, Josh would receive near-unanimous confirmation. In today’s hyper-partisan climate, however, judicial appointments are sadly exploited for more political skirmishing. Thankfully, we don’t do it that way in Maine. As former Gov. Angus King knows first-hand, qualified judicial nominees routinely receive bipartisan support, and Maine’s judiciary is the envy of many states where partisanship infects judicial selections.

Sen. King should join Sen. Collins in supporting Josh’s nomination. Washington sorely needs another lesson in why Maine is “the way life should be.” 

Jim Erwin
Yarmouth