COURTS/GOP/NOMINATIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Sen. Ted Cruz will oppose President Donald Trump’s nominee for the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, Halil Suleyman ‘Sul’ Ozerden, a major setback for the embattled nomination. Cruz (R-Texas) has informed the White House and colleagues this week that he will oppose Ozerden, according to three people familiar with the Judiciary Committee’s internal dynamics. That conservative opposition places in doubt the future of Ozerden, who is a close friend of acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and whose nomination Mulvaney pushed over the objections of the White House Counsel’s office…The Senate Judiciary Committee has held a hearing for Ozerden but has not yet held a committee vote. Republicans are split on whether he will move forward: Some believe the White House may have to withdraw the nomination, others want to push him through despite reluctance among conservatives about Ozerden. Other undecided senators are digging into the nomination.”
–Burgess Everett, Marianne Levine and Eliana Johnson, “Ted Cruz will oppose Trump’s judicial nominee,” Politico, September 12, 2019 4:30 pm