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Stanley Bastian

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Stanley Bastian
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United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Tenure
2014 - Present
Years in position
11
Education
Bachelor's
University of Oregon, 1980
Law
University of Washington School of Law, 1983
Personal
Birthplace
Seattle, WA
Contact


Stanley Allen Bastian is the chief judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. He joined the court after being nominated by President Barack Obama (D) on September 19, 2013.[1] The U.S. Senate confirmed Bastian on April 30, 2014, by a vote of 95-0.[2] Bastian became chief judge of the court in 2020.[3]

Before joining the Eastern District of Washington, Bastian was the managing partner of Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S.

Education

Bastian earned his B.S. from the University of Oregon in 1980 and his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1983.[1]

Professional career

  • 1988-2014: Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, P.S.
  • 2012-2014: Managing partner
  • 1992-2014: Shareholder
  • 1988-1992: Associate

Judicial career

Eastern District of Washington

Nomination Tracker
Fedbadgesmall.png
Nominee Information
Name: Stanley Bastian
Court: Eastern District of Washington
Progress
Confirmed 223 days after nomination.
ApprovedANominated: September 19, 2013
ApprovedAABA Rating: Unanimously Well Qualified
Questionnaire: Questionnaire
ApprovedAHearing: November 13, 2013
QFRs: QFRs (Hover over QFRs to read more)
ApprovedAReported: January 16, 2014 
ApprovedAConfirmed: April 30, 2014
ApprovedAVote: 95-0


On September 19, 2013, Stanley Bastian was nominated by President Barack Obama (D) to a seat on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. That seat had been vacated by Edward Shea, who took senior status. The president had this to say about the nominations:

These men and women have had distinguished legal careers and I am honored to ask them to continue their work as judges on the federal bench... They will serve the American people with integrity and an unwavering commitment to justice.[1][4]

Bastian was rated Unanimously Well Qualified by the American Bar Association.[5]

Bastian's nomination was returned by the Senate on January 3, 2014, and he was renominated on January 6th by President Obama.[6]

Bastian was reported to the full Senate on January 16, 2014, on a voice vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee.[7] The full Senate confirmed Bastian on April 30, 2014, on a vote of 95-0.[2] Bastian received commission on May 1, 2014. He became chief judge of the court in 2020.[3]

Noteworthy cases

Federal judge blocks Trump administration restrictions on abortion access (2019)

Judge Stanley Bastian issued a preliminary injunction to block a new Trump administration rule aimed at keeping Title X fund recipients from engaging in abortion-related activities.[8] Preliminary injunctions keep a new rule from going into effect while a court decides how to resolve legal challenges brought against it. In this case, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule prohibiting the use of Title X funds to perform, promote, or refer for abortion as a family planning method.[9] The rule also requires clear financial and physical separation for clinics conducting Title X and non-Title X activities.[9]

Judge Bastian argued that his injunction was appropriate because the plaintiffs in the case presented facts and arguments supporting the claims that the rule would violate existing laws and regulations, was made in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), and would cause Title X fund recipients to suffer irreparable harm.[8] Bastian also said that the state of Washington showed that it stood to lose over $28 million dollars in savings because “it is not legally or logistically feasible for Washington to continue accepting any Title X funding subject to the Final Rule.”[8] He said one of the plaintiffs, the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, represents over 65 Title X grant recipients and that many members of their network would leave once the final rule went into effect, “ thereby leaving low-income individuals without Title X providers.”[8] The Title X rule was scheduled to go into effect on May 3, 2019, and more lawsuits against the rule were pending in other courts.[8][10]

Judge Bastian devoted most of his analysis to the likely effects of the final rule, but his order granting the injunction also mentions the arbitrary-or-capricious test.[8] Under the APA, courts reviewing agency decisions must rule against actions found to be arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law. The people challenging the rule argued that it was “arbitrary and capricious because it reverses long-standing positions of the Department without proper consideration of sound medical opinions and the economic and non-economic consequences.”[8]

Judge declares workers a class in lawsuit against farm (2015)

Judge Stanley Bastian found that domestic farm workers were denied employment in favor of foreign workers illegally.

Under the H-2A program, operated by the U.S. Department of Labor, farms may hire guest (foreign) workers only if there are not enough domestic workers. The plaintiffs in the case are domestic workers who either attempted to work for Mercer Canyons, the farm being sued, or were existing employees who received lower pay than the foreign workers. The plaintiffs claim they have suffered economic harm because the farm did not properly recruit domestic workers, instead hiring guest workers in contravention to the law.

Advocates for the farm workers claim that farms often use the H-2A program to hire guest workers who are often more complacent than domestic workers; they fear deportation and, therefore, do not ruffle feathers over wages or living conditions. The defendant denies the allegation.

Judge Bastian also certified the farm workers as a class. Currently there are 44 members in the class, but the plaintiffs suggested that it could grow to 600 workers before the end.

Articles:

Awards and associations

Awards

  • 2007-2013: Super Lawyer, Washington Super Lawyers Magazine
  • 2007: Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • 1980: Phi Beta Kappa, University of Oregan

Associations

  • 2010-2013: Chair, The Equal Justice Coalition
  • 2004-2009: Washington State Bar Association
  • 2008-2009: Immediate Past President
  • 2007-2008: President
  • 2006-2007: President-Elect
  • 2004-2006: Governor for Fourth District
  • 2004-2005: President, Chelan-Douglas County Bar Association
  • 2000-Present: Member, JDSA Building, LLC
  • 1992-2004: Board of Directors, LAW Fund
  • 1992-2000: United Way of Chelan and Douglass Counties
  • 1997-1998: President
  • 1992-2000: Board of Directors[11]

See also

External links

Reference

Political offices
Preceded by
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United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
2014-Present
Succeeded by
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