FACT SHEET: Information on WILLIAM J. CRAIN, Trump's nominee To the EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

Campaign Funded by Big Oil and Gas Interests

• Crain raised over $1 million in his 2019 Louisiana Supreme Court campaign, heavily backed by energy industry interests and big business, including strong support from the Louisiana Association for Business and Industry (LABI) and oil and gas associations.

• Major contributors included:

  • • Koch Industries: $10,000

    • ExxonMobil: $5,000

    • Helis Oil & Gas Company: $2,500

    • The Dow Chemical Company: $2,500

    • Lavigne Oil Company: $1,000

Conflicts of Interest and Recusals

• Since joining the Louisiana Supreme Court, Crain has been subject to at least three recusal motions from the Talbot, Carmouche and Marcello law firm, which has represented landowners in coastal property damage lawsuits against oil and gas companies.

• The firm argued that Crain's campaign mailers targeting attorney John Carmouche showed that Crain harbors “actual bias” against him.

• The Supreme Court's other justices voted to recuse Crain from two of Carmouche’s cases in February 2020, though oil and gas companies later argued against further recusals.

Secretive Redistricting Process Lacking Transparency

• Crain joined four other justices in secretly crafting a Louisiana Supreme Court redistricting proposal without holding public hearings, seeking public comment, or meaningfully consulting Chief Justice John Weimer.

• The process stood in stark contrast to the 2022 congressional redistricting, where the Legislature spent extensive time educating the public and allowing time to review proposals.

• Critics emphasized that “adopting proposals crafted behind closed doors without public input is not how representative democracy works.”

• Chief Justice Weimer stated that the map was “drawn without his input” and objected to how it “sidelined the state's citizens.”

Voted to Uphold Abortion Ban Without Rape or Incest Exceptions

• In August 2022, Crain joined three other justices in voting to keep Louisiana's abortion ban in effect without exceptions for rape or incest.

• The ban carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in jail for anyone who provides an abortion deemed illegal.

• Doctors warn that the ban's vague language could lead to women's deaths and has created a chilling effect in the medical community, as physicians struggle to determine when they can legally provide care even under narrow exceptions for saving a patient's life.